Croydon has an interesting history. It was a popular market town in the Middle Ages and became a centre for various commercial activities. Then, in the 19th century it became a commuter town for London. It was thriving in the 20th century, particularly in an industrial sense. More recently, it transformed into a corporate boom town and a hotspot for shopping. There are many impressive landmarks to celebrate the area’s past. We want to look at one of them today and new plans to turn it into homes. Then, if you need services from a letting agent in Croydon, you can rely on us.
A tower with many names
Croydon’s skyline at the moment is full of high tech modern buildings. However, an older building has the title of being the most iconic property in the area. It is currently known as No. 1 Croydon, but was previously the NLA Tower because Noble Lowndes Annuities had offices in the property.
Other than its official names, the building has had a fair few different nicknames. An early one was the Threepenny Bit (Thruppenny Bit) because the tower’s shape had a resemblance to the coin. With the change in coins in 1971, its nickname became the 50p Tower. Some even refer to it as the Wedding Cake.
The tower was designed by architects Richard Seifert and Partners. It is part of an impressive portfolio of work that includes other iconic buildings such as the NatWest Tower (Tower 42) Centre Point, and Southbank Tower. Work was complete in 1970. It is 82m tall and has 24 storeys.
New plans
Earlier this week architects Howells released new plans for No. 1 Croydon. Let’s explore them, then you can talk to us if you need a lettings agent in Croydon.
The interesting thing about the proposal is it would convert the tower from commercial use into residential. There would be flats varying in size from 38 sq/m to 73 sq/m. There would be between 10 and 12 on each floor, with 250 in total.
An impressive thing here is the project would not involve any alterations to the exterior of the tower. It would retain the unique design but transform its use to create housing. It’d give people the chance to live in one of the area’s most impressive towers.
The fact there won’t be any changes to the exterior is important. While the building currently does not have any formal protection, the Twentieth Century Society has been trying to get it a listing. There was a proposal in 2013, but Historic England chose to reject it, citing that it did not meet strict criteria of special interest. However, there is more appreciation for Seifert’s work today, so Twentieth Century Society has made a new bid to get the tower a listing.
Another interesting thing about the proposal is the owner wants to make the changes using permitted development rights. Croydon Council has traditionally taken a negative view to this kind of office to residential conversion. In fact, they chose to ban projects in 2014. That ruling has since expired. The local authority will need to decide whether to give permission for this work to proceed. The hope is a decision will be reached by 24th September.
Do you need help from a lettings agent in Croydon?
Finefair Ltd works to give clients the best level of service. We can provide a bespoke solution for any needs, including handling tenancies, property management, and more. One thing we excel at is guaranteed rent. It can give you everything you need by working with us and the local council.
So, if you are looking for a lettings agent in Croydon, we recommend you consider what we can do for you. It can offer more value and many other benefits. Get in touch to learn more.
