SYLVAN HILL YMCA, SOUTH NORWOOD

Members of the London Borough of Croydon Strategic Planning Committee voted unanimously to grant planning permission in December 2010 for a new 76 bed YMCA and 32 private flats.

In conjunction with the project architects Howard Fairbairn MHK, Stiles Harold Williams co-ordinated the ambitious and high profile planning application on behalf of the YMCA and worked closely throughout the process with London Borough of Croydon, to ensure the application would receive their full support and the planning application was granted complete with the Section 106 within the government 13 week target.  Extensive public consultation was also undertaken with local stakeholders, which minimised the number of objections received.

A number of site specific aspects needed to be addressed during the process, including the site’s location adjacent to a Conservation Area, resident concerns about highway safety, protecting the woodland to the rear of the site, on-site tree protection, addressing privacy concerns, and Section 106 negotiations, much of which required extensive project management with the design team.

“SHW Planning professionally project managed the pre-application and planning application for a replacement YMCA building and enabling residential flat development, securing planning permission from Croydon's Strategic Planning Committee.  By preparing a robust planning application, and through their on-going communication with the local planning authority and the design team, we hope to press ahead with construction of a much needed supported accommodation scheme for vulnerable Croydon youth."
The Client, 2010

“By utilising our knowledge and experience of public sector planning SHW was able to assist the LB Croydon in processing the application ensuring that the scheme met development plan requirements whilst securing the requirements of the client”
Ian Coomber – Director and Head of Town Planning