The construction of a 17-storey skyscraper has been labelled not "suitable" for Purley by Croydon South MP Chris Philp.

An independent review into the proposed development will take place over eight days starting on January 9, but Mr Philp is urging people to do whatever they can to make sure the application gets rejected.

"Last December the council gave planning permission for a 17 floor skyscraper in Purley, despite the fact that 9,000 local residents, seven local Residents Associations and I opposed it.

"Such a large building will change the character of Purley, may act as a precedent for other developers and will cause parking chaos (because it has only 37 parking spaces for 220 flats).

"The site does need to be redeveloped, but 5-7 floors would be more appropriate.

"Very high buildings have their place – for example in Croydon Town centre – but Purley is not suitable for a skyscraper."

Despite the building being approved last year, development was stopped at the final stage in April 2017 after it was 'called in' by the Government.

This meant that the council’s approval was suspended and the application would be heard again by an independent planning inspector.

At the time of the decision, Gerard Cunningham, executive chairman of Thornsett said he was "disappointed" by the news.

"Thornsett, a family business, has been working with Croydon Council and Purley Baptist Church over the last four years and has invested, to date, in excess of £2 million to support the regeneration of Purley Town Centre," he said.

"The development will provide a massive further investment into Purley with construction jobs, long term jobs and badly needed homes of all tenure.

“We were very disappointed to be at the final stage of the planning legal agreement, after having incurred all the cost that this entails, to find it called in by the Secretary of State at the last minute.

"We are confident that when the Secretary of State is supplied with the detailed facts surrounding the application, he will be minded to approve it.”

Mr Philp has urged people opposed to the skyscraper to sign this petition and email the planning inspector.

"There is of course no guarantee that the planning inspector will agree with us, but this is our last chance to stop the skyscraper," he said.

"Please help in one or more of the ways above to give us the best possible chance of stopping it."

You can email the planning inspector at Tim.Salter@pins.gsi.gov.uk quoting reference: “3174139: Russell Hill Road, CR8 2LE.”