Housing provider Optivo and Henley Construct are set to deliver 116 affordable homes in Croydon as part of the East Croydon Masterplan
Henley Construct, part of the Henley Homes Group, will deliver a new nine-storey, £35.2m development, in Cherry Orchard Road which will feature one, two and three-bedroom affordable homes, and will replace an old industrial depot.
It follows a revised planning application by Henley Design which optimised the previous application by reducing the overall number of units to improve daylight levels, overall building functionality, access and maintenance.
The development will breathe new life into this underutilised site and form part of the East Croydon Masterplan, which seeks to unlock Croydon’s potential as a thriving hub for outer London.
The East Croydon Masterplan will include a redeveloped and expanded East Croydon railway station, new homes and vast public realm improvements that seek to create a truly mixed-use destination.
Tackle the housing crisis
Richard White, director of land and new business at Optivo, said: “We’re really looking forward to building these much needed affordable homes and doing our bit to tackle the housing crisis.
“We’ve a proven track record of delivering high quality developments in Croydon and look forward to moving this exciting project forward.
“We’re confident of delivering a development the people of Croydon can enjoy and be proud of for years to come. This huge investment shows our commitment to delivering homes to the borough.”
The new affordable homes will be within walking distance of East Croydon station and amenities, including the 15 acre Park Hill Park.
It will be set across two linked blocks, with communal resident gardens at ground level and secure cycle and refuse storage.
The homes will enjoy a contemporary specification and many will benefit from balconies and gardens, while eleven units will be wheelchair accessible.
Aaron Usmani, Henley’s construction director, commented: “Croydon is an area undergoing significant change and we look forward to playing our part by delivering these genuinely affordable homes for Optivo at a time when they are needed most.
“The development is well placed to benefit from the wider infrastructure and public realm changes taking place, meaning that residents will be at the heart of everything Croydon has to offer.
“This builds on our track record of working with housing association partners to unlock and optimise challenging sites, underpinned by our ongoing commitment to design, quality and efficiency.”
Work is due to begin in April 2021, with social distancing measures in place, and estimated completion is set for April 2023.
