Virtual planning committee approves Mica’s Croydon regen scheme

Croydon’s local housing company Brick By Brick has secured permission for a 421-home scheme in the town centre in the borough’s first ever virtual planning committee meeting.

The Fairfield Homes scheme was designed by Mica Architects and Common Ground Architecture – Brick By Brick’s in-house architecture practice.

It will see apartments built across five buildings of up to 29 storeys, sitting above office, retail and leisure space in the south London town.

Four of the buildings have been designed by Mica, with Common Ground designing the remaining 78-home block.

The project will be built opposite Croydon’s Fairfield Halls concert venue, which has recently been refurbished by Brick By Brick, with the revenue from the housing scheme ultimately destined to cross fund the refurb job.

The scheme received permission at Croydon’s first ever virtual planning committee, convened following the introduction of new legislation enabling planning committees to carry on working under coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

Brick By Brick was set up by Croydon council in 2016 to provide “affordable” housing in the borough, and has recently completed its first homes, with a further 1,000 under development and an ambition to be producing 500 a year by 2021.