‘We don’t want to see New Addington becoming a slum’ was the resounding message from the first meeting of a new residents group on Wednesday (February 12).

About 100 people packed into Fieldway Community Centre for the first meeting of the New Addington Residents Association (NARA).

Discussion got heated about Brick by Brick’s proposals to built flats and houses in the town.

The  Croydon Council-owned development company has just finished carrying out public engagement for 20 projects, most of which are in New Addington.

Scott Ainsworth-Payne, 27, was elected as the chairperson of NARA in a show of hands.

He said: “New Addington and Fieldway are in the top three per cent most deprived areas in London.

“That is why we wanted to set up NARA, a community organisation that can stand up on a local and national level.

“Our current main objective is Brick by Brick, the reason we feel we need to get involved in this is because it is going to have a massive impact.

“There is the risk of New Addington becoming a slum.”

Other residents at the meeting said that if new flats were going to be built in the town there needed to be new infrastructure including schools and doctors.

New Addington North councillor Simon Hall, who was also at the meeting, faced tough questioning from people concerned that their town would not be able to cope with new developments.

He was asked if he had personally opposed any of the developments in the first stage of public engagement.

Cllr Hall said: “Some of the sites that were taken off the list from last year were because of representations.

“I would need to look at the final plans. We have to consider the actual ones that go to the planning committee. I am going to wait to see the actual schemes put in before forming a view.”

For now the engagement carried out by Brick by Brick does not mean that the developments will definitely go ahead.

The company says it uses feedback to inform final plans submitted to the council’s planning department for consideration, this is expected to happen next month.

Brick by Brick recently published a myth-busting fact sheet to address concerns of Croydon residents.

In this, the company said: “As a housing company, set up to deliver good quality and affordable housing, it is our mission to always seek ways to create new homes on sites in a considered and appropriate way.

“We understand that this may not always make everyone happy – people will have differing views around what sites are appropriate, or have personal preferences around design or the type of housing we should be developing.

“We accept that, and it is up to us to work with the community, the council and other stakeholders to reach the best outcome possible.”