Conservation groups have condemned plans to build a leisure club on the site of an historic pumping station.

The Mid-Croydon Conservation Area Advisory Panel says the plans for the Grade II listed station at Waterworks Yard in Surrey Street would do nothing to enhance the Central Croydon conservation area. The neo-gothic building was formerly used by Thames Water but has been vacant for several years.

Headway Property Initiatives Ltd (HPI) intends to build a swimming pool, gymnasium and café bar complex on the site, next to Surrey Street multi-storey car park.

Planning permission and listed building consent was granted at a meeting of the plans sub-committee on Thursday night.

A panel spokesman said: "A 500 per cent increase in traffic has been approved in the area since 1991. The plan drawings contain discrepancies and further information is required in relation to the internal alterations to the building.

"The poor quality of drawings and lack of information led the panel to conclude that this is not an appropriate development for the site."

English Heritage also said more detailed drawings were needed if listed building consent was to be granted.

And Croydon Central MP Geraint Davies told the council that several of his constituents were concerned about the impact on traffic and the quality of life seven days a week.

But planning officer Simon Albrecht said in a report to the sub-committee: "The existing building has recently benefited from a major external refurbishment that has considerably improved its appearance.

"But it still only comprises a hollow shell and substantial investment and a new use is required to secure its long term future."

Permission was granted in June 1996 for the station to be developed as a pub.

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