Plans in for 568 homes in Crayford near town centre

A new planning application has been submitted to Bexley council to construct 568 homes in Crayford on a site where 359 homes were previously approved near Sainsburys, the one-way system and Crayford Greyhound stadium.

Purelake and Skillcrown are behind the proposal at the former Electrobase / Wheatsheaf site which has lay empty for some years.

Purelake are also behind plans to build a Marks & Spencer store below new flats in Sidcup.

The Crayford site saw a prior application in 2015 but no progress since. According to the developer, works could not progress until a Sainsbury’s application on their staff car park was decided.

That never happened, and the land has now been sold to the developer to expand the site.

The previous plan in April 2015 was for “redevelopment of the Site comprising the erection of three blocks up to 6 storeys in height, providing 359 residential units, 317 car parking spaces, cycle parking, landscaping and access.”

With the acquisition of further land, housing totals are up to 568.

Rail

The site isn’t too far from Crayford station and bus routes. However quick and frequent rail links from Crayford to Abbey Wood for Crossrail services are currently poor. It’s about 45 minutes to central London on Southeastern.

There was talk of radically altering rail services to link into Abbey Wood but it hasn’t happened. The Elizabeth Line now means Abbey Wood is just 10 minutes from Canary Wharf and less than 20 to Liverpool Street in the City but those on other lines aren’t really benefitting to the fullest right now.

Sainsbury’s are also sitting on a bit of a goldmine with their vast plot directly next to Crayford station. A rebuilt store with parking condensed into a multi-storey would permit new homes which would provide new custom to the supermarket – as well as for Crayford town centre.

However Bexley Council’s favoured plan to extend Crossrail into Kent would actually sever the loop line linking Crayford with Abbey Wood. Though at a cost of £3.2 billion, there’s little chance of an Elizabeth line extension happening.

Other funds from the development according to the application includes:

• The provision of a Riverside Walk along the River Cray to provide a new pedestrian and cycle connection from Crayford Town Centre to the Crayford Rough and beyond;

• Transfer of 4 hectares of the Crayford Rough to the Council at nil cost to be secured for public access following a series of ecological enhancement measures;

• A financial contribution to the Council towards ongoing maintenance of the Crayford Rough;

• Improvements to pedestrian and cycle connections through the Site and improvements to the pedestrian environment around the Site, including a new crossing on Stadium Way and Roman Way, the widening of the footpath on Roman Way and the creation of a new footpath along Stadium Way

Consultation with the NHS resulted in a financial contribution of £313,000 being requested as part of a planning permission for local primary health facilities, including GP practices.

The tallest blocks will face the one-way system opposite Aldi.

Crayford Rough

Much of the site is green space named Crayford Rough. Around 4 hectares of the existing Crayford Rough which is designated Metropolitan Green Belt and a Site of Metropolitan Importance for Nature Conservation.

Developers proposed to pass it to Bexley Council with funds for upkeep.

The application is absolutely mammoth, and if you fancy wading through over 300 documents the link is here.