Plans to demolish a Sutton building and replace it with a block with 70 houses have been refused by Sutton Council.

In February 2024, Centro Planning Consultancy applied to Sutton Council to demolish City House on Sutton Park Road and replace it with a part-five part-13 storey building.

The site is currently being used as an office space, and the proposal planned to completely redevelop the site.

The upper floors would have between four and eight flats each, and a total of 70 flats to accommodate residents.

Had it been approved, the plan stated that the ground floor would be used as office space, intended for those who work from home or students to study.

The planners described the proposed 70 residential units as “high-quality”.

There would have been 11 one-bedroom flats, 55 two-bedroom flats, and four three-bedroom flats.

Seven of the homes would have wheelchair access.

The site is also within Sutton Town Centre and is only a three-minute walk from Sutton High Street.

TfL gave the site a PTAL (Public Transport Accessibility Level) rating of 6a, the second-highest rating possible, meaning access to public transport is generally simple.

The site is a five-minute walk away from Sutton Station, with easy access to Thameslink services, Southern services and South Western services.

The planning statement stated that there would be two lifts and two stairwells, providing safe mobility and access in daily life, and in the event of an emergency.

The proposed development would be suitable for 14 residents under the age of 18.

The ground floor and rooftop would deliver a communal amenity space with enough space for children to play in.

However, after receiving 51 letters of objection and zero letters of support, Sutton Council has refused the plans.

The decision comes after the Council saw the plan would result in a lack of parking, an increase in traffic, loss of daylight and overshadowing to adjacent properties, loss of privacy for existing and new residents, increase in traffic, increase in noise, and an increase in air pollution.

In the Sutton Council Officer’s Report, it was stated that: “Due to the limited space and shared access between the application site and Morrisons supermarket delivery bay, the proposed development has failed to demonstrate the development would provide satisfactory provision for safe and efficient collection of waste which would not result in public highway safety issues for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians.”

The decision was announced on Friday (October 4).

Sutton Council has allowed Centro Planning Consultancy to appeal the decision if they are unhappy with it.