LATEST regeneration plans for the Cherry Orchard Road area of East Croydon, which include a 50-storey tower block, are being given a cautious welcome by residents and businesses, a developer is claiming.

But Labour councillor Sean Fitzsimons – who helped lead opposition to previous plans – says the size of the skyscraper will be a serious sticking point.

Developer Menta has this week published its conclusions from two public consultation exercises.

It says nearly three quarters of the people taking part either supported the new scheme or believed it was "heading in the right direction".

Nearly 20 per cent, however, indicated they were strongly opposed while a further seven per cent expressed some opposition.

The main concern centred on the height of the main tower block, which would become Croydon's tallest building.

The new scheme replaces controversial proposals from Menta to build four tower blocks – one 45 storeys high – on a site taking in Cherry Orchard Road, Cherry Orchard Gardens and Billinton Hill.

The new £250 million scheme envisages providing 500 one, two and three-bedroom apartments in the main tower block and a smaller 14-storey building.

It also includes a hotel, shops, restaurants, cafés, bars and open space.

A bridge, already planned to link East Croydon station with Lansdowne Road as part of the East Croydon masterplan, will be extended into Menta's site giving residents an easier route in to the town centre.

Craig Marks, Menta's boss, said: "Although we recognise that some people still have reservations about a tall building on the site, this is a second-to-none opportunity to provide a striking symbol right at the heart of Croydon's main access point – East Croydon station."

He said both positive and negative comments would be taken into account as the plans moved forward.

Cllr Fitzsimons is concerned that only around 100 of the proposed homes would fall into the affordable category.

He added: " I think people are happy with the bridge but the devil will be in the detail and we still do not know what the tower will look like.

"I want to see the area regenerated but I am not ever going to support a 50-storey tower block."

Residents will have another chance to discuss the proposals with Menta representatives at a drop-in event being held at Oval Primary School, in Cherry Orchard Road, between 11am and 4pm on Saturday, September 18.