Our vision is for a new, high-quality, well designed development providing circa 447 homes for local people to rent. The new building has been designed to maximise resident wellness and will transform the quality of the surrounding area with a welcoming entrance on the corner of Hazledean and Altyre Roads. Ranging from one-bedroom apartments to three-bedroom family homes, the mix of accommodation has been chosen to help meet Croydon’s housing needs. A high proportion of the new homes will be dual aspect bringing better daylight, ventilation and views. One in ten will be designed for wheelchair users and a proportion will be designated affordable homes. Residents will also benefit from well-managed active, versatile communal areas including a gym and other leisure facilities.
Following planning submission, we have worked with Croydon Officers to determine the appropriate building height that reflects the town centre location. Reducing the height from 39/38 storeys to 36/33 storeys reduces the ‘mass’ of the building significantly, improving the relationship to our neighbours. The introduction of a 3-storey ‘step’ at the crown of the building also enhances slenderness, especially when viewed from East Croydon Station to the north.
The ‘villa’ block, forming part of the tower at lower levels, has been reduced in size from 12 storeys to 9 storeys. This improves the building’s relationship to neighbouring buildings, and the daylight levels have significantly improved for close residents, increasing by 8.3%.
An important aspect of the design is to uplift the local environment. There will be a large, shared, landscaped garden that will include play space for children and areas where residents can relax. Generously landscaped public spaces, with newly planted and more mature trees, will line Altyre Road transforming an urban street into a green route to Park Hill Park. Stepping the Villa building back has created a new ‘pocket park’ along Hazeldean Road and also improves the relationship of the villa to neighbouring properties. The park will bring vital greening to the street edge. Careful attention has been taken to ensure the development achieves a high level of sustainability and energy efficiency.