The old Rose and Young car showroom in Croydon Road, Caterham

On Tuesday, 8th April the new Rose and Young Task and Finish Working Group at Tandrige District Council presented its Report to the council's Planning Policy Committee.  The comprehensive report contains the Group's recommendations about how to bring about the redevelopment of the old Mercedes car showroom in Croydon Road, Caterham, that has been derelict for over 18 years.    The Report had been put together after reviewing progress to date and meeting with other interested parties.

After discussing the content of the Report, the Committee voted uninamously to adopt its recommendations, which includes releasing up to £50,000 from the Economic Development Reserve.  The money will be available to fund site investigations and provide details of a viable redevelopment scheme for the site.  It will also be used for seeking advice from experts with regard to using Compulsory Purchase powers if the owner of the site refuses to engage in the redevelopment process.  Another of the recommendations in the Report was that the council continues to support the CR3 Forum Neighbourhood Plan, including supporting the proposal for a Neighbourhood Development Order for the Rose and Young site.

Following the meeting, a spokesperson for the CR3 Forum said:  "TDC have recognised the potential power of the Neighbourhood Plan for the CR3 area. By working in partnership with us, the long hoped-for project to see the site redeveloped is less risky financially and legally for the Council now than it was without us. This is a boost for the CR3 Forum, the Neighbourhood Plan and for Caterham as a whole".

Local resident, John Harvey, who has extensive experience of Compulsory Purchase Orders, was less convinced that a Neighbourhood Development Order would help to bring about redevelopment of the site, saying:  “I regard the Working Group's enthusiasm for obtaining planning permission by a Neighbourhood Development Order as misplaced. This is a long-winded process that could be the long grass where future necessary decisions are kicked. It is also new and untried and its uncertainties could discourage a development partner.”

To view the full Report presented to the Planning Policy Committee click here.