Make wins planning for tallest Croydon tower

Make has won planning for a 54-storey residential tower in Croydon.

The £250m scheme for urban regeneration company Menta will include 499 homes, a hotel, business units and shops.

The tower - which will be the tallest in Croydon - incorporates communal areas such as roof gardens, cafes and a climbing wall every few floors to encourage a greater sense of community in the tower.

The plans were approved last night by Croydon council, along with Foster and Partners’ nearby mixed-use scheme, Ruskin Square.

Make’s Cara Bamford said: “Croydon Council’s vision for the area has been a crucial factor in our design and we are looking forward to starting on site – especially as we believe Cherry Orchard Road will play a crucial role in unlocking the potential of the area and delivering the Council’s overarching masterplan.

“The tower will be an elegant landmark building offering a lifestyle as totally removed from outdated concepts of high rise living as possible. The building will host a genuine ‘vertical community’ with shared amenity spaces at all levels including roof gardens, games room, craft room and business centre, and rooms available for private hire for family celebrations and other events.”

Craig Marks of Menta said: “We are delighted that Croydon Council has accepted the recommendation of its officers to move ahead with this major scheme, which is so important to Croydon’s long-term economic growth and prosperity. Our planning application was the culmination of many years of intensive work with Croydon Council’s officers, who we commend for their ambition and vision.

“We believe this consent paves the way for Croydon to reverse the decline in the quality of the environment around its main arrival portal of East Croydon Station. The landmark residential tower, in particular, will become an internationally recognised landmark building.”