“Piers Gough tower to act as another jewel in Croydon’s Crown!

Far removed from recent posts, I wholeheartedly welcome the recent approval of Piers Gough’s stunning and inspirational plans for Lansdowne Road.
The tower will offer Croydon a glamorous landmark for any visitor entering the borough by car, as will the Menta development for those visiting the borough via East Croydon.

I would agree with the local resident who recently spoke in favour of the scheme at council, that old and new can work in symbiosis and that the Wellesley Road approach could become “The Golden Gateway” of Croydon.

To argue that the aesthetic of the building lacks artistic merit shows a complete lack of understanding. We should embrace the fact that such names as Alsop, Shuttleworth and now Gough are seeing the real potential of our town, whilst backward thinking Nimbys seem to be doing little or nothing to promote and maintain our town’s true potential.

I was a little confused by Cllr. Scott’s comments made at Council on the night the plans were passed, and recently reported by this paper. Although I am a fan of oxymoron, to argue that the development will merely provide “rich ghettos for the wealthy stuck up in the air” does not work and is a weak argument. The application complies with planning regulations and was thoroughly scrutinised by a group of well-informed and highly trained planning officers. The scheme will provide £99,400 for education and £137,200 for our health services which is surely to be welcomed. The scheme itself will offer a four-star hotel, 100 serviced apartments, 25,000m2 of office space, 360 new flats and a new gym.

Speaking with a fellow Croydon resident who attended the planning meeting he felt that: “the design is both generous and glamorous in a time where it has become fashionable in architecture to cut back and scrimp.” I would have to agree.”

By CrossRdRes