Despite concerns over a lack of parking a former care home in Purley has been given permission to become a house of multiple occupancy (HMO).

Croydon Council approved plans to redevelop the former Alice Lodge care home in Brighton Road this week.

The detached building will be turned into nine bedsits, six on the ground floor and three on the first.

Each room is due to include an en-suite bathroom and basic cooking facilities with no cooker.

The application from Just Plans on behalf of Icona Homes said there will be storage for 20 bicycles and four off-street parking spaces.  

A planning statement said: “Existing infrastructure is excellent.

“The applicant submits that the stress on the existing parking and highways from the staff and visitors associated with a fully operational [care home] would likely exceed the use now proposed.”

The plans, which received three public objections, were given the go-ahead by the council on Tuesday, May 29.

Objections included concerns that a lack of parking would increase pressure in neighbouring roads.

But the council decision states: “The proposed development is not considered to generate [a] significant level of parking stress to justify refusal of planning permission.

“The development would not generate significant levels of traffic, with any traffic that [is] generated likely to be comparable or less than the previous use.”