Plans to build a block of flats in Upper Norwood where only seven homes will be 'affordable' have been approved by Croydon Council.

This was the third time in four years that developers have tried to demolish the site at 49-51 Beulah Hill.

Despite the previous applications featuring plans to build 62 and 38 homes homes respectively, they were rejected, with a lack of affordable housing a main reason why.

"The development would include an insufficient level of provision for affordable housing and no viability statement was submitted to justify why a greater provision would not be viable," a planning statement said in regard tot he 2014 application.

But now a part 6, part 7 storey building, part 4, part 5, part 6 storey building and three town houses totalling 33 homes have been approved, despite just seven of them being classed as affordable.

This works out at 21 per cent, well short of the number of affordable homes council wants new developments to include (50 per cent).

The case officer addressed this issue when recommending it for approval.

"This offer has been subject to extensive viability testing and is considered to be the maximum reasonable level of affordable housing, which still allows the scheme to be financial viable and deliverable," the officer wrote in his report.

"The applicant has agreed to undertake early and late stage affordable housing review being included in the legal agreement (so that increased levels of affordable housing could be secured if the development economics of the scheme improve).

"Given this and the constraints of the site, the proposed tenure split is considered acceptable."

It wasn't just the affordable housing that had people up in arms.

Of the 20 people who responded to the application, every one of them opposed the idea, with some citing the plans as "visually overbearing and intrusive."

Despite this, the plans were approved on April 6.