Croydon News
The latest Croydon news: planning decisions, council and crime updates, business and community stories, each linked back to its official source.
Top story
Addiscombe Road Fire: 60 Firefighters, Roof Destroyed
Sixty firefighters fought a derelict house fire on Addiscombe Road from 4.32am Thursday. The roof was destroyed, nobody hurt, cause under investigation.
More stories
Jobs
Croydon Claimant Count Jumps 310 to 16,880 in August
Croydon's claimant count rose to 16,880 in August, 6.3% of working-age residents: the sharpest monthly rise since June 2025, with under-25s at a five-year high.
Surrey Street
Surrey Street at 750: New Gateway and an 18m Mural
A seven-metre gateway and an 18-metre Vic Lee mural mark 750 years of Surrey Street Market. Signs, trees and trader power upgrades come next in the £4.4m project.
Purley
Purley Pool: Council Says Administration Won't Stall Rebuild
Croydon Council says Polaska put its BVI arm into administration as part of a restructuring the council itself required, and the rebuild is unaffected.
Council
Council Tax Support in Croydon: Cuts for 20,000 on Table
Croydon's Cabinet decides on 23 September whether to consult on cutting Council Tax Support. Up to 20,000 residents affected; options save £3.6m to £11.9m.
House prices
Croydon House Prices Fall 3.4%, Sharpest Drop Since 2024
The average Croydon home sold for £390,041 in July, down £13,630 in a year. Flats are falling fastest at 5.3%, and Newham is now within £308 of Croydon.
Purley
Purley Pool: Developer Polaska in Administration
Polaska Assets, the firm behind Purley Pool's approved 220-unit rebuild, entered administration on 6 August, Gazette records show. What happens now.
Community
Croydon Nightwatch at 50: Out Every Night Since 1976
The charity that meets homeless people in Queen's Gardens at 9.30pm nightly turns 50 this year. How to join its anniversary quiz night on 24 October.
Planning
Croydon CIL: Examiner Backs £225 Rate on Town Centre Homes
£225 a square metre for central Croydon homes: the first developer levy there since 2013 has passed examination. Full Council votes on 21 October.
Community
Croydon Homeless Day Centre Opens in October on London Road
A new homeless day centre opens three days a week from October at the CVA Resource Centre on London Road, run by CVA, CAYSH and Spires with government funding.
Planning
Croydon Green Belt: 5,600 Homes in Draft London Plan
The draft London Plan puts 5,600 homes on Croydon's Green Belt, in a growth location out to New Addington. Objections and responses are open until 15 October.
Thornton Heath
Croydon Pride in Place: £20m Chair Named, Plan Due Feb
Alison Johnson will chair the board deciding how £20m is spent around Croydon University Hospital. The plan is due at Westminster by 26 February 2027.
Social care
Croydon Care Homes: £79.8m Deal, Provider Changed in April
Eleanor took over Heavers Court, Addington Heights and Langley Oaks on 1 April, five months before the council said so. The 10-year deal is worth £79.8m.
Education
CALAT Croydon: Independent Review, Cabinet Decides October
Croydon has commissioned an independent review of CALAT, reporting to Cabinet in October. Most classes leave the Clocktower for Thornton Heath that month.
Community
Croydon Neighbourhood Grant: Residents Fund 26 Projects
Croydon put £240,000 to a public vote. More than 500 residents chose at six area events, and 26 community organisations will be funded out of 56 that applied.
Housing
Croydon Landlord Licensing: 25 Sept Is the Last Legal Date
Croydon cannot delay its landlord licensing schemes again. 25 September is the latest lawful start date, and the system to run them was only bought in August.
Food hygiene
Croydon Food Hygiene August 2026: 35 Fives, No Zeros
Croydon published 48 new food hygiene ratings in August. 35 were top marks, three scored one out of five, and only two places in the borough now hold a zero.
Planning
Ruskin Square Croydon: 268 Homes, 16 Affordable
Two blocks, 21 and 12 storeys, would bring 268 homes to the Ruskin Square car park. Sixteen would be affordable. The viability appraisal says none can be.
Planning
Brighton Road South Croydon: Flats or 91-Room Hotel
Officers back two rival schemes for the same empty plot on Brighton Road, South Croydon: 25 flats, or a six-storey hotel of up to 91 rooms. Decided 3 September.
Croydon Council
Croydon Must Repay £75,000 After Family Sold Gran's Home
The Ombudsman found Croydon charged a woman for care the law says is free. Her family sold her house to pay. It must now repay £75,000 with interest.
Schools
Croydon GCSE Results 2026: What Each School Published
Woodcote's best ever, Riddlesdown 29% at grades 9-7, Trinity 44% at grade 9. Croydon's published GCSE figures, and the benchmark the council left out.
Business
Zotefoams Croydon: 100 Jobs at Risk in Vietnam Move
Zotefoams is consulting on 100-plus redundancies at its Mitcham Road factory as Nike foam moves to Vietnam. The accounts, and the union's case.
Transport
Croydon EV Charging Plan: Have Your Say by 28 September
Croydon has 439 public chargers and half its homes have no driveway. The plan targets 4,200 by 2035, below its own forecast. Consultation closes 28 September.
Council
Croydon Fly-Tipping Worst in England: 3 Fines, 53,268 Tips
Croydon logged 53,268 fly-tips in 2024/25, more than any council in England, and issued three fixed penalty notices for them. What Defra's record shows.
House prices
Croydon House Prices June 2026: £394,736, 2nd Cheapest
The average Croydon home is now £394,736, down £7,791 in a year. Only Barking and Dagenham is cheaper in London. Where the falls are, by property type.
Jobs
Croydon Claimant Count 16,835: Under-25s the Only Rise
Croydon's claimant count reached 16,835 in July, 6.2% of working-age residents. Under-25s are the only age group above last year. Every ward ranked.
East Croydon
East Croydon Bridge: Contractor on Site 19 Aug, Open in 2027
B&M McHugh takes possession of the East Croydon station bridge on 19 August 2026 to start surveys for the eastern entrance. What is being built, who pays, and when Addiscombe finally gets its shortcut.
Education
Croydon A-Level Results 2026: Remark Deadline 20 August
Croydon schools report a strong year, with a record 98% Distinction or Merit at The BRIT School. If a grade looks wrong, the fast appeal closes on 20 August.
Crime
Croydon Shoplifting: GPS Tags Plan for Repeat Offenders
Croydon plans GPS tags for prolific shoplifters and town centre bans. There were 4,796 reported shop thefts in the centre last year. No funding or date yet.
What's On
Costa del Croydon 2026: Session Times and Free Tickets
The rooftop beach on Centrale's level 3A car park runs to 31 August. Two sessions a day, free tickets, and the adults-only Thursday nights end on 27 August.
Sport
Romell Glave wins European 100m gold for Croydon Harriers
Romell Glave, who runs for Croydon Harriers at the Sports Arena in South Norwood, took the European 100m title in 10.09 seconds at Birmingham on 11 August.
Roads
Croydon road resurfacing 2026/27: all 65 streets listed
The council's £17.58m highways programme names 65 roads for carriageway work and 7 for new footways this year. Here is the full list, ward by ward.
Housing
Croydon landlord licensing starts 25 September: 14 wards
Every privately rented home in 14 Croydon wards needs a licence from 25 September, at £800 for five years. Ward list, fees, discounts and deadlines.
Heritage
Open House 2026 in Croydon: bookings open on 19 August
Croydon's free Open House line-up runs 12 to 20 September, but the full programme opens for booking on 19 August. Tours, an 18m market mural, new exhibition.
Food hygiene
Croydon food hygiene ratings, July 2026: a zero on Cherry Orchard Road, three ones, and a Nando's told to improve
69 Croydon food hygiene inspections were rated in July 2026. Rio Lounge on Cherry Orchard Road took the lowest possible zero, three businesses were rated 1, and the Nando's off Purley Way was rated 2.
Parks
Four more outdoor gyms for Croydon parks: Thornton Heath, Old Coulsdon, Addiscombe and South Norwood next in line
Croydon Council has named the next four parks to get free outdoor gyms over the coming year: Mayfield Road Playground, Grange Park, Ashburton Playing Fields and South Norwood Recreation Ground.