New Addington

Last updated

New Addington
Central Parade, New Addington - geograph.org.uk - 1320684.jpg
Central Parade
Greater London UK location map 2.svg
Red pog.svg
New Addington
Location within Greater London
Population10,801 (2011 Census. Ward) [1]
OS grid reference TQ382622
  Charing Cross 12 mi (19 km)  NNW
London borough
Ceremonial county Greater London
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town CROYDON
Postcode district CR0
Dialling code 020
01689
Police Metropolitan
Fire London
Ambulance London
UK Parliament
London Assembly
List of places
UK
England
London
51°20′34″N0°01′00″W / 51.3427°N 0.0167°W / 51.3427; -0.0167

New Addington is an area of South London, England, within the London Borough of Croydon. It is located 5 miles south east of Croydon and is adjacent to the Greater London boundary with Surrey.

Contents

History

Until the 1930s, the area now known as New Addington was farmland and woodland in the southeast of the ancient parish of Addington. The farms were called Castle Hill, Addington Lodge [Later Fisher's Farm]. [2] At the time, central Croydon and London more generally had overcrowded slums causing concern to the authorities. In 1935, the First National Housing Trust purchased 569 acres (2.30 km2) of Fisher's Farm with the intention of erecting a 'Garden Village', with 4,400 houses, shops, two churches, cinema, and village green. [3] The Chairman of the Trust was Charles Boot, hence the earliest part of New Addington is sometimes called The Boot's Estate. [2]

By 1939, when the outbreak of World War II suspended construction, 1,023 houses and 23 shops had been built. The new estate was popular, but the provision of amenities had not kept pace with the house building. Only one of the proposed schools and few of the shops were in operation. For employment, decent shopping and entertainment, the residents had to travel off the estate. This heralded a long history of isolation for the estate, then nicknamed Little Siberia, because it is much colder than the rest of Croydon.[ citation needed ] The isolation was partly remedied 60 years later with the arrival of Tramlink route 3, mentioned below. [3] Tramlink runs alongside Lodge Lane, the main (northern) road access. There is only one other point of access by road, where King Henry's Drive connects with minor roads to the south.

After the war, there were concerns about the amount of green space being used for building around London and much of the countryside around the developing estate was designated as Green Belt land. [3] The County Borough of Croydon bought the unused First National Housing Trust land and a further 400 acres (1.6 km2) to add to it, for extensive further development. [3] Many dozens of single-storey, detached, prefabricated houses (commonly known as "prefabs" of the "Arcon" type using corrugated cement asbestos panels fixed to a bolted steel frame as photographed in "A 1950s metal UK prefab at the Rural Life Centre, Tilford, Surrey.") were built in the Castle Hill area of the estate. These were inhabited until the 1960s when they were demolished and replaced with brick-built two-storey homes.[ citation needed ] At the same time as the smaller prefabs were built, larger two-storey semi-detached houses were also built. These houses, which had metal upper skins, still survive around the King Henry's Drive area near Wolsey School. This was more development than had originally been envisaged but it brought about the structure of the estate as seen today.

Many more houses, blocks of flats, churches, factories and Central Parade with its shops, were built. The London Borough of Croydon obtained permission for a further 1,412 houses, which were completed in 1968. [3] This area, at the Croydon end, is known as the Fieldway Estate and has developed its own identity to an extent. [2] The total population counted by the 2011 Census was 22,280, of which 10,801 were in New Addington ward, with 11,479 in Fieldway ward.[ citation needed ]

Reputation

Map of New Addington, showing its distance from other Croydon settlements New addington Map.png
Map of New Addington, showing its distance from other Croydon settlements

The distance from Croydon and other centres, with patchy bus services being the only main transport links for many years, prevented New Addington residents from being able to access a full range of employment and educational facilities or indeed shops. A significant improvement was the arrival of Tramlink (route 3) in 2000, providing a connection with Croydon and Wimbledon in a little over 30 minutes, and from there connections to Central London. This provided the opportunity of a greater choice of schools and jobs. Several 'feeder' 'bus routes were also introduced to connect with Tramlink, along with general enhancement to bus services in the area. The area was declared[ when? ] one of the first Education Action Zones by the Labour government, with extra investment and opportunities for partnership for schools.[ citation needed ] The London Borough of Croydon increased its investment in the remaining housing stock and in the leisure and youth facilities. [3] It also organised a neighbourhood partnership for the estate which local people lead to hold public institutions to account.[ citation needed ]

New Addington has however continued to suffer from various reports of violence and public upset for several years, reflecting upon anti-social behaviour and gang violence involving youths on the estate from the 1970s to the present, as well as the perceived poor standard of schools, low educational and health standards, and a reported high number of teenage mothers, particularly in Fieldway.[ citation needed ] In a Croydon Advertiser survey in 2013, New Addington, in comparison with other areas, was said to be the worst in Croydon to live, based on life expectancy, incapacity benefit claimants rates and income support, unemployment, crime, school exam passes, public transport accessibility and access to open space and nature. [4]

The area was affected during the 2011 England Riots. A supermarket was destroyed by firebombs and stolen property was found in the area. [5] [6] An inquiry supported the provision of a local police station. [7] A councillor praised local recovery from the riots, claiming the area was now a stronger community than before and rates of anti-social behaviour were beginning to decline. [8]

The Fieldway estate came under criticism in 2011, following local resident Emma West being arrested and charged with a racially aggravated public order offence, weeks after a video was uploaded to YouTube of her racially abusing passengers on the Croydon Tramlink, attracting 11 million viewers by 2012. [9] [10] Her detainment on remand at HMP Bronzefield attracted a protest from the Britain First movement. [11] On 1 July 2013 she was sentenced to 24 months' community service and ordered to be put under a supervision order, as well as receive mental health treatment. [12]

The estate was also the scene of the disappearance and death of 12 year-old Tia Sharp in 2012. [13] Residents of New Addington refuted comments from journalists who they felt inaccurately cited her death as an example in reflecting the area's issues. [14] [15] [16]

In 2013, the area was featured three times in the same episode of Crimewatch UK , predominantly focusing on the area's gang culture. [17]

Demography

In the 2011 census, New Addington ward was White or White British (76%), Black or Black British (14.2%), Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (3.8%), Asian or Asian British (3.4%) and Other ethnic group (1%). The largest single ethnicity is White British (72.7%). [18]

The most common household tenure were those rented from council (31% of households), followed by 29% of homes owned by a mortgage or loan. 7% of the economically active population were unemployed. The median age of the population is 34. [19]

0.3% of the population (as well as Fieldway ward) commuted to work by bicycle, the second lowest in Greater London and only higher than Kenton East in Harrow. [20]

The Office for National Statistics identifies a New Addington Built-up area [21] with a 2011 population of 22,280, [22] made up of New Addington ward (10,801) [23] and also Fieldway ward (11,479). [24]

Politics

Politically, New Addington has traditionally been a Labour stronghold, providing the only five Labour councillors out of 70 in the London Borough of Croydon between 1982 and 1986.[ citation needed ] Four of the last six leaders of the Labour Party on Croydon Council have been councillors representing the estate, including Geraint Davies, the area's former Member of Parliament, and Val Shawcross, now a London Assembly member.

From 1965 to 1978 the area was covered by one ward, New Addington. The population of New Addington increased following the construction of the Fieldway estate and it was split into two wards ahead of the 1978 Croydon Council election, New Addington, which now covered the southern end of the New Addington area and Fieldway which covered the northern end of New Addington area and the Fieldway estate itself. The boundaries were modified slightly ahead of the 2002 Croydon Council election.

In 2006 the two ward had two Labour councillors each, both wards seeing strong challenges from the BNP.[ citation needed ] In the 2010 local elections, New Addington ward elected Tony Pearson, its first Conservative Councillor since 1968.[ citation needed ]

Labour won all seats on the estate at the 2014 elections and voted for Sadiq Khan in the 2016 Mayoral Election and heavily for Leave in the 2016 EU Referendum.[ citation needed ]

In the snap 2017 General Election, Gavin Barwell was unseated as the Conservative MP and replaced with Labour's Sarah Jones.

In 2018, following a boundary review, New Addington ward was renamed New Addington South and Fieldway ward was renamed New Addington North with minor adjustments to their boundaries. [25] The Conservatives missed out on winning a seat in New Addington South by 180 votes, with Labour once again holding all four seats.[ citation needed ]

In 2022, however, the Conservatives won both council seats in New Addington South and one of the seats in New Addington North, with Labour winning the other.

Facilities

St Edward the Confessor's Church, New Addington Church of St. Edward King and Confessor, New Addington, CR0 - geograph.org.uk - 41210.jpg
St Edward the Confessor's Church, New Addington
Church of the Good Shepherd, New Addington The Good Shepherd RC church, New Addington CR0 - geograph.org.uk - 56235.jpg
Church of the Good Shepherd, New Addington

The Anglican parish church of New Addington is St Edward's Church [26] at the end of Central Parade, built in 1957. Fieldway, however, is part of Addington parish, under the 11th century St Mary the Blessed Virgin Church in Addington village. There are also a Baptist church, the Good Shepherd Roman Catholic Church, the Salvation Army and several other smaller places of worship.

Although most of the rest of Croydon has the London telephone dialling code '020', New Addington has the Orpington code for BT customers of '01689'. In recent years, cable telephone providers have entered the estate, using 020 for completely new customers, but existing BT customers transferring over to cable can retain the 01689 number if they so wish.[ citation needed ] New Addington is in the CR0 postal district, the largest (by population) in the country. [27]

Since the beginning of 2006, Croydon Council have started a consultation with the local community with a view to regenerating the Central Parade shopping district and bringing in a partner to develop new housing and a supermarket retail outlet.[ citation needed ]

Transport

Rail

The nearest National Rail stations to New Addington are Hayes, located 3.6 miles away and East Croydon, located 5 miles away.

Trams

The area is served by three Tramlink stops (Fieldway, King Henry's Drive and New Addington, linking the area with West Croydon and Wimbledon.

Buses

New Addington is served by London Buses routes 64 (24 hours), 130, 314, 464 & 664. These connect it with areas including Biggin Hill, Bromley, Croydon, Eltham, Hayes, South Norwood & Thornton Heath.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tramlink</span> Light rail tram system in South London

London Trams, previously Tramlink and Croydon Tramlink, is a light rail tram system serving Croydon and surrounding areas in South London, England. It began operation in 2000, the first tram system in the London region since 1952. It is managed by London Trams, a public body part of Transport for London (TfL), and has been operated by FirstGroup since 2017. Tramlink is one of two light rail networks in Greater London, the other being the Docklands Light Railway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Borough of Croydon</span> London borough in United Kingdom

The London Borough of Croydon is a London borough in south London, part of Outer London. It covers an area of 87 km2 (33.6 sq mi). It is the southernmost borough of London. At its centre is the historic town of Croydon from which the borough takes its name; while other urban centres include Coulsdon, Purley, South Norwood, Norbury, New Addington, Selsdon and Thornton Heath. Croydon is mentioned in Domesday Book, and from a small market town has expanded into one of the most populous areas on the fringe of London. The borough is now one of London's leading business, financial and cultural centres, and its influence in entertainment and the arts contribute to its status as a major metropolitan centre. Its population is 390,719, making it the largest London borough and sixteenth largest English district.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Addington, London</span> Human settlement in England

Addington is a village and area in south London, England, within the London Borough of Croydon. It is south of Spring Park, west of Coney Hall, north of New Addington and east of Forestdale and Selsdon, and is 11.1 miles (18 km) south of Charing Cross and 4 miles (6.4 km) south-east of the centre of Croydon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Selsdon</span> Human settlement in England

Selsdon is an area in South London, England, located in the London Borough of Croydon, in the ceremonial county of Greater London. Prior to 1965 it was in the historic county of Surrey. It is located south of Coombe and Addiscombe, south west of Forestdale, West Wickham and Addington, north of Hamsey Green and Farleigh, and east of Sanderstead.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Waddon</span> Human settlement in England

Waddon is a neighbourhood in the London Borough of Croydon, at the western end of the town of Croydon. The area borders the London Borough of Sutton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">London Borough of Merton</span> London borough in United Kingdom

The London Borough of Merton is a borough in Southwest London, England.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Croydon</span> Town in South London, England

Croydon is a large town in South London, England, 9.3 miles (15.0 km) south of Charing Cross. Part of the London Borough of Croydon, a local government district of Greater London, it is one of the largest commercial districts in Greater London, with an extensive shopping district and night-time economy. The entire town had a population of 192,064 as of 2011, whilst the wider borough had a population of 384,837.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coombe, Croydon</span> Human settlement in England

Coombe is a place in the London Borough of Croydon, situated south-east of central Croydon, between Addiscombe, Selsdon and Upper Shirley. Formerly a hamlet, since the growth of suburban development the area has become swallowed into the London conurbation and often does not appear on modern map.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Forestdale, London</span> Human settlement in England

Forestdale is a residential neighbourhood of southeast London in the London Borough of Croydon. It is sometimes considered to be part of Addington, its ancient and ecclesiastical parish. It is located south of Upper Shirley, east of Selsdon, south-west of Addington's historic centre, north-west of New Addington and north of Farleigh and is east of West Wickham.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fieldway tram stop</span> Tramstop in New Addington, London Borough of Croydon, UK

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Addington Village Interchange</span> Tramlink tram stop in London, England

Addington Village Interchange is a light rail stop and associated bus station serving Addington in the London Borough of Croydon in the southern suburbs of London. It opened on 10 May 2000 along with the line to New Addington.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Addington tram stop</span> Tramlink tram stop in London, England

New Addington is a terminal tram stop serving the centre of New Addington, in the London Borough of Croydon, in the southern suburbs of London. The tram stop is served by London Trams, which connects New Addington with central Croydon. The next stop on the line towards central Croydon is King Henry's Drive.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coombe Lane tram stop</span> Tramlink tram stop in London, England

Coombe Lane tram stop is a light rail stop in the London Borough of Croydon in the southern suburbs of London. It is located south of Addington Hills and serves Royal Russell School and the Ballards residential estate.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pollards Hill</span> Human settlement in England

Pollards Hill is a small residential district straddling south London boroughs of Croydon and Merton between Mitcham, Norbury and Thornton Heath. The boundary of the two boroughs is a street named Recreation Way. No roads directly cross the Croydon and Merton divide, and streets were planned according to borough, leading to differing architectural or building schemes. It lends its name to a ward of the London Borough of Merton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sandilands tram stop</span> Tramlink tram stop in London, England

Sandilands tram stop is a light rail stop in the London Borough of Croydon in the southern suburbs of London. It serves the residential area along Addiscombe Road to the east of the centre of the town of Croydon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gravel Hill tram stop</span> Tramlink tram stop in London, England

<span class="mw-page-title-main">King Henry's Drive tram stop</span> Tramlink tram stop in London, England

King Henry's Drive tram stop is a light rail stop serving the Betchworth Way residential area of New Addington, in the London Borough of Croydon in the southern suburbs of London. It is located in the wide central reservation of a dual carriageway.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">St George's Walk</span>

St George's Walk is a partially covered shopping parade in the centre of Croydon, London that houses many independent stores. It was completed in 1964 by Ronald Ward and Partners, the designers of St George's House, at one end of the walk, and Millbank Tower in Westminster.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Economy of the London Borough of Croydon</span>

Croydon, located in Greater London, England, has a diverse economy with the service and retail sectors now dominating over the town's historical market status. It is today served well by its extensive rail network centering on East and West Croydon stations, from where London Overground, First Capital Connect and Southern operate to most parts of Central and Greater London, as well as Surrey, Sussex, Hampshire and the East of England. With the A23, M23 and M25 orbital motorway intersecting Croydon to the South East, it is the principal gateway of the motorway network from the East Sussex area of the South Coast. London Gatwick Airport is located to the direct south of the town and has scheduled flights to destinations within Europe, North America and Asia, although has tough competition from the even bigger London Heathrow Airport to the west but has managed to stay the UK's second busiest airport. The town has since 2000 had a tram network which has been highly successful, carrying more than 24 million passengers a year. The network has three lines, the routes being; New Addington to West Croydon, Wimbledon to Beckenham and Wimbledon to Elmers End, with some off-peak variations. Croydon is one of only five London boroughs not to have any form of London Underground services.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fieldway (ward)</span>

Fieldway was a ward in the London Borough of Croydon, covering part of the New Addington estate in London in the United Kingdom. The ward formed part of the Croydon Central constituency. The population of the ward at the 2011 Census was 11,479.

References

  1. "Croydon Ward population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 10 October 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 "History Section - New Addington". Croydononline.org. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Willey, Russ (2006). The London Gazzetteer. Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. p. 335.
  4. Gareth Davies (22 November 2013). "DATA BLOG: Where is the best place to live in Croydon?". Croydon Advertiser. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 28 November 2013.
  5. "CROYDON RIOTS: Parade burned as families fled for their lives".[ permanent dead link ]
  6. "New Addington gang jailed for 25 years". Croydon Advertiser. Archived from the original on 12 August 2012. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
  7. CROYDON RIOTS: New Addington community 'lost faith' in police | Croydon Advertiser
  8. Nick Hitchens (8 August 2012). "CROYDON RIOTS: New Addington response was fantastic says councillor (". Your Local Guardian. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  9. "Racist tram rant accused Emma West remanded after court hearing". BBC News. 6 December 2011. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  10. Felicity Morse (29 November 2011). "Emma West, 34, Charged With Racial Harassment After Abusive Tram Rant". Huffington Post. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  11. "Prison protest calls for release of 'tram rant woman' Emma West". Demotix. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2018.
  12. Judge orders Croydon tram race rant mum Emma West to 'keep the peace' on public transport | Croydon Advertiser
  13. "Tears for Tia". Daily Mirror. 10 August 2012.
  14. "New Addington: the benighted estate Tia Sharp called home". The Week. 14 August 2012.
  15. "New Addington residents furious over article branding estate 'impoverished ghetto". Croydon Advertiser. 14 August 2012.[ permanent dead link ]
  16. "Is New Addington really a "benighted ghetto"?". Eastlondonlines. 9 December 2013. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  17. Councillor Kian Hollis hopes BBC Crimewatch appeal will help catch Gary Hayward's attackers | Croydon Advertiser
  18. Services, Good Stuff IT. "New Addington - UK Census Data 2011". UK Census Data. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  19. "New Addington - UK Census Data 2011". Ukcensusdata.com. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  20. "Ward Profiles and Atlas – London Datastore".
  21. "2011 Built-up Areas - Methodology and Guidance" (PDF). Office for National Statistics. 2013. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  22. UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – New Addington Built-up area (E34000214)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics . Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  23. UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – New Addington Ward (as of 2011) (E05000157)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics . Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  24. UK Census (2011). "Local Area Report – Fieldway Ward (as of 2011) (E05000154)". Nomis. Office for National Statistics . Retrieved 26 August 2021.
  25. Final recommendations on the new electoral arrangements for Croydon Borough Council (PDF). Local Government Boundary Commission for England. 2017. pp. 22–23.
  26. "Welcome to St Edward's". St Edward New Addington. Retrieved 7 January 2018.
  27. "FOI request: Population for every postcode district in England and Wales". The National Archives. Archived from the original on 5 January 2016. Retrieved 12 October 2016.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)