Planning permission granted for supermarket and creative studios in Purley

The old Milk & More dairy site in Brighton Road, Purley, is set to be transformed into a retail unit and 20 studio spaces for local creatives.

The designs received huge support from the Purley community and have been given the green light by Croydon Council’s planning department.

The three buildings of the former dairy, which have locally listed frontages, will be sensitively repaired and restored, bringing them back into public use. The new additions will be set back from the former dairy frontages and are designed to celebrate their heritage.

The retail unit is anticipated to be used by Marks & Spencer for a new Foodhall, which is within the Purley Business Improvement District. The development will create about 120 new jobs for residents, including 55 at the supermarket. The site will also deliver a new creative hub for locals – with 20 individual studios and two large open-plan studios, all located above the 68-space car park.

The new Foodhall will contribute to Marks & Spencer’s presence in the borough, with existing stores located in the town centre – Whitgift Centre in North End – and the recently opened full line store on Purley Way.

Nick Snashall, of developer Grove Property, said: “Having acquired the site from Milk & More our vision was to breathe new life into the area. Working closely with Croydon Council and M&S to bring the application proposal forward has enabled us to do this, and we are excited to enter the delivery phase of this project, which will bring much needed inward investment and new job opportunities to the area.”

The new Foodhall will contribute to Marks & Spencer’s presence in the borough, with existing stores located in the town centre –Whitgift Centre in North End – and the recently opened full line store on Purley Way.

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