South Norwood school children win fight with homes developer

by Ross Lidbetter

ross.lidbetter@essnmedia.co.uk

In a modern-day David versus Goliath struggle, a group of school children have beaten a developer who wanted to build six homes next to their wildlife garden.

The 24 members of South Norwood Primary's school council were worried that the development in Birchanger Road would have affected their lessons.

They also feared increased traffic problems and that their outdoor learning areas would be ruined.

So they wrote to Croydon Council bosses and the council's planning committee turned down the application to build the single-storey development in January last year.

The developer launched an appeal, but now the Planning Inspectorate has agreed the council was right to agree with the children's fears and has thrown it out.

However, the determined youngsters could have a further battle on their hands as the developer, Mel Designs Associates, is set to submit a new planning application.

Della Williams, head of the school in Crowther Road, says she is very proud of the children for fighting the plans.

She explained: "The children looked at this very maturely and they were very excited to have been involved. That was the key thing.

"They were very objective where they needed to be.

"The children designed a leaflet which went out to other children and parents to get their views.

"They were concerned about the building of the development and the dust from the trucks coming in."

Ellen Wilkinson, chair of South Norwood Residents' Association, believes it is a "great example" of grass roots campaigning.

She said: "For the children, it is good that they have learnt to stand up for their rights in an organised fashion.

"Then to be rewarded like this is particularly excellent.

"The first application being defeated was round one, this victory is round two so we are leading 100 to the developers' zero.

"But developers never seem to give up and we have to remain vigilant."

And this call for vigilance was well justified as Martin Lloyd, from Mel Designs Associates, in Chipstead, confirmed another application will be submitted.

He added that it hasn't been decided what this will include yet.