Plans to regenerate Croydon’s Woburn and Bedford Court with flats

Privately owned property development company Premcor Estate has submitted a planning application to regenerate the Woburn and Bedford Court site.

The plan is to deliver 445 flats in four buildings.

156 of these homes will be affordable. 

The developers say there will also be more than 1,700 sqm of flexible commercial and community use on the ground floor.

As well as delivering affordable homes for local people, the developers hope that the scheme will act as a catalyst for regeneration in the nearby Wellesley Road area.

They hope to establish new pedestrian links and significantly improve the quantity and quality of public realm within and around the site.

The masterplan for the new scheme was established at the early stage of design and responds to the planned growth of residential, commercial and mixed-use development in the Croydon Opportunity Area. 

It will strengthen the northern gateway into Croydon town centre and improve the connections between Tavistock and Wellesley Road.

Homes will be built across four buildings of one, two and three-bedroom flats.

The first block will be 26 storeys high.

The second block will be built above the commercial and community space and will be 29 storeys high.

The third block will be 13 storeys high, and the fourth block will be four to seven storeys high.

Premcor director Rob Lane said: “This is a significant inner-city regeneration scheme and it has taken four years to reach the planning submission stage. 

“We have invested an immense amount of time and thought into creating a masterplan which we see as being able to deliver the optimum residential, commercial and community benefit for the Croydon community.

“Our vision is to create a safe and sustainable mixed-use neighbourhood that revitalises Woburn and Bedford Court and Wellesley Road. 

“In the wider context, the redevelopment of the site aims to deliver a vibrant mixed-use neighbourhood that promotes local employment, supports small to medium-sized enterprises and serves as a community hub which is currently lacking in the neighbourhood.”

James Owens, partner and head of planning at Rapleys London office, said: “Currently, the Woburn Court and Bedford Court site comprises a total of eighty units distributed across eight blocks, each ranging from three to four storeys in height.

“Built in 1964, they fall far short of current standards and regulations.

“With the current amenity space consisting of flat grass areas, scattered trees, concrete pavers and tarmac, an upgrade rather than a total rebuild has been deemed neither practical nor commercially viable.

“Placemaking lies at the heart of this proposal and with approval, this scheme will be able to significantly improve the quality of life and opportunity for local people, as well as breathing new life into what is now a run-down site - the current 1960s development layout results in a fragmented public realm, which has led to misuse of its spaces and as a consequence, the estate has been plagued by antisocial behaviour over the years.”

To ensure a strong sense of community, the ground floor community space will provide an anchor for a new living and working community. 

Its central pocket garden will include play space, trees and shrubs.

This development is designed to be car-free, except for fourteen accessible parking spaces and one space for a car-sharing club.

The proposal includes 811 long-term cycle parking bays for residents, along with extra bike parking for visitors.

Mr Lane added: “This is a fantastic regeneration opportunity, and I should like to take this opportunity to congratulate our design and development consultants for their collective endeavours thus far. 

“We are keen to receive determination of our planning application so that we can move to the pre-construction phase as soon as possible.”

Other members of the design team include EPR Architects, Churchman Thornhill Finch – landscape architect and Montagu Evans - heritage and townscape consultant.