People power has won in Purley after the council backtracked over plans to build high rise flats in the town centre.

Residents, traders and community groups were furious when it was announced Purley would be a spot for concentrated development, along the A23/Brighton Road towards Coulsdon.

They objected last October, to the plans released in the Imagine Croydon document – a council blueprint for the future of the borough – and said the development would ruin Purley.

But residents were celebrating after a second draft of the Imagine Croydon document was released this month.

It revealed Purley's flood risk means it is not a top spot for high density housing – something Purley architect Tarsem Flora has told the council consistently.

Mr Flora, chair of Purley and Woodcote Residents' Association, said: "We were so pleased when we saw the report because to build houses in a valley prone to flooding would be ridiculous.

"We (the Residents' Association) provided a special report detailing this to the council and they listened."

The draft plan does claim high rise flats could be built if the flood risk in Purley was addressed before building work.

But Mr Flora said it would be virtually impossible to implement enough flood control for concentrated development.

This week council leader, Councillor Mike Fisher, said £350,000 was earmarked in the next financial year's capital budget for flood prevention but stressed this would be the start of a very long process to make the area free from flooding.

He said: "It is virtually impossible to get an area like this, in a valley, to alleviate flood risk.

"What the council needs is some money to become available from central government to help form a traffic and flood management plan.

"Until this happens development along the A23 is not going to be much of a goer."

Cllr Fisher said the £350,000 would be spent on clearing blocked drainage pits along the borough's highways – known as soakaways – which have not been cleared for several years.

But he stressed no development could be started just by clearing drains.

Charles Trefusis, chair of Purley and Kenley Neighbourhood Partnership, said: "Dispersed development is much more suitable for Purley, concentrated development would have been inappropriate and put a strain on resources."

People can comment on the new document on March 6 at Christ Church Hall, Brighton Road, from 10am to 3.30pm, or online at www.croydon.gov.uk/corestrategy