Lead and asbestos have been found in an assessment of a former care home in Thornton Heath due to be redeveloped into 27 flats.

Cheriton House in Chipstead Avenue is due to be knocked down and replaced with a four storey apartment block.

The proposal from council owned developer Brick by Brick was given the green light in June last year.

Before any demolition work can be carried out a number of conditions have been imposed, including an assessment into contamination on the site.

On Monday Croydon Council published an update stating that officers are happy the conditions have been met.

A statement on the application said investigations on the land indicated ‘elevated levels of lead’ as well as localised asbestos fibres.

To reduce risk to ‘end users’ it states: “In areas of gardens and soft landscaping a suitable thickness of clean inert soils is to be placed to provide a cover between end users and the underlying made ground.”

It also states that anything evacuated from the site will be disposed at licensed facilities and any materials coming onto the site would be tested.