A meat factory near East Croydon station will be demolished to make way for a block of 120 flats.

Plans to replace the unit in Cherry Orchard Road with a nine-storey block of flats will go ahead, councillors have decided.

Croydon Council’s planning committee unanimously approved the plans from AEM Developments Ltd.

The site is currently home to pork supplier Cherryfield Ltd, which will move to another location.

Mark Batchelor of Boyer Planning, agents for the developer, said: “This scheme has been subject to extensive discussion with the council with recommendations taken on board, in particular around the scale of development, mix of units and unit types.

“The site is allocated in the local plan for residential development and 32% will be affordable housing.

“The development will provide a significant number of genuinely affordable units together with more family accommodation than policy would require.”

The development is set to be made up of seven studio flats, 38 one-bedroom units, 60 two-bedroom flats and one five-bedroom flat.

There will be 11 affordable rent homes and 15 shared ownership.

One of the Addiscombe West councillors spoke against the development in his ward.

Councillor Sean Fitzsimons said: “I do support in principal this scheme as something that will help regenerate Cherry Orchard Road, though, of course, I mourn the loss of an employment site.”

He added that it was the last connection to a historic area:  “This place was one of the old sites that people used to marshal their animals many years ago.”

He also raised concerns about balconies planned for the site, describing glass balconies as “the devil’s spawn – they should not be allowed”.

And he had some suggestions on paving, too.

“Cherry Orchard Road has some of the best and some of the worst pavements in Croydon,” said Cllr Fitzsimons.

“I wonder whether we can ensure that something can be done to improve the whole of the road and not just the bit outside the development.”

But Councillor Paul Scott praised the scheme as being ‘positive’ for the area.

He added: “I know the romantic things that Sean says but there is nothing romantic about the way it looks now.

“The alleyway will hopefully be made a usable route for people on their way to the station.

“I think it is a positive scheme providing a high level of new homes in an area that is very well serviced by public transport.”