A locally listed building in South Croydon will be turned into flats for homeless families despite concerns from neighbours.

One said he feared it would “become akin to a doss house”.

Plans to convert 25 Warham Road from a nursery into six self-contained flats were approved by Croydon Council.

It was previously run as Exploring Minds Day Nursery, which closed down just eight months after it opened in September 2016.

Before that, in 2013, another nursery was forced to close due to financial difficulties.

And in the time the building was empty, it was taken over by squatters. 

An objecting resident, Mr O’Brian, said a group of residents were “strongly against” the proposals.

There was a total of 23 public objections to the plans. 

He asked the council to include a condition for permission to be reviewed “to ensure that the site is being adequately managed”.

He added: “This simply can’t become a burden to the community.

“It is an absolute must that Croydon Council condition the management of the site.

“There is a very real danger of the facility deteriorating and becoming akin to a doss house.”

But Cllr Paul Scott hit back during the meeting on on Thursday, February 14, saying that anybody can become homeless.

“We have homeless people in the borough who are working,” he said.

“I was disappointed by the point that was put forward by the objector.

“For a lovely building that has sat empty for many years to be put back into homes for people in this borough, I can’t see what the problem would be.”

Cllr Jason Perry said he understood the concerns of residents, adding: “I think they have suffered with the mismanagement of this site over a number of years.”

The new development will be made up of four two-bedroom, one three-bedroom and another one-bedroom flat.

Speaking on behalf of the applicant Cherubin Estates Limited, Ryan Astell said: “The proposed scheme will provide emergency accommodation for residents.

“It will mean less residents are forced to sleep rough in the borough.”