Plans to build 5,600 homes on green belt land in Croydon have drawn opposition from the local Conservative MP, who has launched a petition against the development.
Chris Philp, MP for Croydon South, is challenging the London Plan’s housing target for an area between Croydon and New Addington, arguing that the green belt should be preserved for future generations.
Alternative development sites
The MP acknowledged that additional housing is needed in London but suggested that brownfield sites and stalled developments should be prioritised before green belt land is released. He pointed to higher-density development in town centres and locations with existing infrastructure as alternatives.
“Across London, there are brownfield sites and stalled developments that could be brought forward for housing,” Philp said. “We should also be looking at higher-density development in town centres and other suitable locations where the infrastructure already exists.”
The intervention comes as transport connectivity continues to influence housing development patterns across the capital, with developers increasingly focusing on areas with established infrastructure.
Market implications
The opposition to the 5,600-unit target could affect housing supply in outer London boroughs, where land availability has become increasingly constrained. The debate reflects ongoing tensions between housing delivery targets and green belt protection policies that have characterised London’s planning landscape in recent years.
Philp argued that green belt land serves multiple functions beyond preventing urban sprawl, including providing wildlife habitats, capturing carbon, improving air quality, and offering recreational spaces for local residents.
The controversy mirrors broader discussions about housing development locations taking place across the UK, as local authorities balance housing targets with land use priorities.
Policy context
“Once this land is developed, we cannot simply get it back,” Philp stated. “We can build the homes London needs without sacrificing the green spaces that make this neighbourhood special.”
The petition against the development has been made available to residents, though no timeline has been specified for when planning decisions on the site will be made. The outcome could influence similar debates in other London boroughs facing pressure to meet housing targets while protecting designated green belt areas.
