So here is what we gleaned from the Sandrock Pub redevelopment consultation...
Whilst the following is stated as ‘fact’, planning permission has yet to be submitted to Croydon Council.
The development of the Sandrock site is bigger than initially thought, and consists of three buildings:
Firstly, the Sandrock pub itself will be renovated, retaining most of the external facade, and not expanding any further back than it already does.
Accommodation for the pub landlord/lady will be on part of the first floor (existing footprint) and the existing second level. Also on the first floor will be a new one bedroom flat, the second residence.
An extension (a dining area) will be built to the side where the current car park entrance is. This will be a two storey add on with the first floor being the third new residence - a two bedroom flat. This new build will be directly adjacent to the entrance to Sandrock Place, apparently overlooking number 6 Sandpits Road.
However...
The 2 other three storey buildings will consist of 8 flats each. These will be of varying bedroom size (minimum 1 bedroom, maximum 3 bedrooms). One of these blocks will be in the existing Sandrock garden/car park. The second block will be seemingly built in what is currently woodland, and appears to be directly adjacent to and overlooking 1a Sandrock Place.
Access to these new residences will be via Sandrock Place. The positioning of the new “driveway” into the car park for the new residences, appears to be directly on the (blind) bend of Sandrock Place.
Speaking of the car park, there are 16 parking spaces in the main area (separating the two blocks) with a proportion of them being disabled bays. There are two further parking bays in front of the new dining extension accessed from Sandpits Road - this is the only designated parking for the pub.
That’s 18 parking spaces for 19 residences and pub customers!!
The artists impressions of the new residences seem to imply that they will be boxy, and modern, not in keeping with the look and feel of a nineteenth century inn. Seriously, it looks like Boxpark!!
Moreover the commitment to retaining trees seems to have been overlooked as the rear block of 8 flats will be built in what is currently woodland, and, as already surmised, the residents of 1a Sandrock Place will be overlooked.
Call me cynical (“you’re cynical”) but the whole thing smelt fishy.
I feel that the pub renovation is a red herring and that a couple of years down the line it is feasible that it could “fail” and be turned into housing.
For those thinking of raising objections it’s best not to concentrate solely on the issue of parking. Croydon Council seem to be blinkered about this subject and there is some thought that they are keen advocates of using local public transport, so parking on its own is not high on their radar.
They obviously don’t travel on Southern Rail!
Drew
