Controversial plans to build blocks of flats on the Lion Green have taken a step forward.

In October 2017, Croydon Council's development company Brick by Brick opened a consultation that would see 120 new homes built on the Lion Green Road Car Park site.

Now a planning application to build 157 homes has been submitted.

Pip Toogood has lived in Coulsdon for the past four years and said in October that the Croydon Merstham and Godstone Railway embankment at Lion Green "will be hidden from public view" if plans to built the flats are given the go ahead.

"I'm particularly concerned that what remains of Coulsdon heritage is disappearing fast.

"The embankment at Lion Green is one of the last remains of the oldest public railway in the world (Surrey Iron Railway).

"The blocks will vary in height from four to seven storeys, and the tallest will be clearly visible above the tree line.

"Rather than hiding the embankment behind blocks of flats, Croydon Council should be celebrating Coulsdon's heritage by creating a public square or park at Lion Green."

Blocks of five, six and seven stories will make up the 157 homes, but a little over two weeks after the application was submitted, residents have already made their objection known.

Already 102 members of the public have commented on the application (at the time of publishing this article), and not one has approved of the plans.

During the consultation period, Brick by Brick said views would be considered in development.

"(The design includes a) careful approach to the protection and enhancement of views through the site towards the Scheduled Ancient Monument," it said.

The document also said there would be a "retention and reprovision of a new public car park of 100 spaces serving Coulsdon town centre."