Connecting Kenley

What is Connecting Kenley?

The Connecting Kenley Programme is a series of projects intended to improve pedestrian road safety, transport, air quality, support spaces and the appearance of streets in Kenley.

Projects have been designed in line with residents’ priorities from the Kenley Community Plan.

The Connecting Kenley Programme is funded by Croydon Council and the Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund, with supporting partners.

Timeline

• In 2018, Kenley had seen an increase in house building. This put pressure on the local area.
• To address these issues, Croydon Council secured funding from the Mayor of London’s Good Growth Fund (GGF) to develop a community plan in partnership with the community. Croydon Council engaged with residents and businesses across Kenley.
• In 2020, the draft Kenley Community Plan was issued. At the same time, Croydon Council secured funding to deliver the priorities identified in the Kenley Community Plan.
• In 2021, the Kenley CommunityAdvisory Group (KCAG) was established by Croydon Council, to guide delivery of the Kenley Community Plan.
• In 2022, Croydon Council and Kenley Community Advisory Group worked together to develop projects for Kenley.
• In 2023, Croydon Council secured additional GLA Air Quality Funding to deliver landscaping and update the street appearance to Old Lodge Lane Parade. This makes the total funding, from the Mayor of London, £903,776.

Projects

Below is an outline of 7 projects which were formed from engagement in the Kenley Community Plan.

1. Community Hubs
2. Wayfinding
3. Parklets
4. Healthy Streets
5. Electric Vehicle Charging Points
6. Secure Cycle Hub
7. Flood Alleviation

1. Community Hubs

Improving support spaces:

• Newly refurbished Kenley Memorial Hall Community Hub
• Newly renovated Old Lodge Lane Baptist Church Community Hub

In 2021, you told us that young and old people in Kenley need accessible support spaces. In 2022, design were drawn up to make Kenley Memorial Hall and Old Lodge Lane Baptist Church more accesible, for all ages. Construction began on both in 2022. Today the works are complete! You can hire spaces at both locations for functions, parties, receptions, meetings...

Below is an outline of the works completed at Kenley Memorial Hall:

• New reinforced gravel car park and bicycle stands
• Repair works to external steps and handrail
• New external signage and lighting
• New accessible and unisex toilets, with baby change
• New electric range cooker and fire door to the kitchen
• New fixed projector in the large hall

New car park at Kenley Memorial Hall

New accessible and unisex toilets, with baby change at Kenley Memorial Hall

New bike stands at Kenley Memorial Hall

Below is an outline of the works completed at Old Lodge Lane Baptist Church:

• New community room, available to hire
• New room for the Purley Food Stop Shop
• New accessible toilet
• New ramp
• New landscaping
• New signage
• New glass frontage
• New external lighting
• New spill out space and external canopy

Exterior view of Old Lodge Lane Baptist Church Community Hub

Hireable community room at the Old Lodge Lane Baptist Church Community Hub

Food Stop Shop at Old Lodge Lane Baptist Church Community Hub

2. Wayfinding

Installation of signage to help you move around Kenley (like finger posts, gateway markers and a Welcome map). This will improve pedestrian travel across Kenley and to highlight Kenley’s heritage and iconic destinations.

In 2021, you had concern that connectivity across the ward is lacking. In 2022, Croydon Council began researching routes for people to get around Kenley. In 2023, Croydon Council engaged with over 70 local children to understand what Kenley means to them.

Croydon Council are working with a graphic design practice to design new signage across Kenley. This includes finger posts, train station welcome signage and gateway markers to the woodlands.

Graphic designer mock up of finger posts

Draft Kenley Station Welcome Map, created by a graphic design company

A Station Welcome Map

Croydon Council are working with a graphic design company to design a wayfinding map, to be located in or around Kenley Train Station. We want residents and visitors to use this map to find their way around Kenley.

We held a survey, asking: Which iconic places in Kenley do you think we should show on a Welcome Map?

[This survey has now closed]

Next steps:

• Using your comments, Croydon Councilwill design the Wayfinding elements with a graphic design practice
• These will be costed and discussed with Kenley Community Advisory Group
• After approval procedures, these will be delivered all over Kenley

3. Parklets

This is landscaping works (planting and seating) to the pavement at Old Lodge Lane Parade. This will provide a place for everyone to rest, relax and walk-through. This will be called a Parklet. No parking bays will be removed. This project with improve air quality and street appearance.

In 2021, the Kenley Community Plan outlined the need to improve the appearances of Kenley’s streets and pavements. In 2022, the design of a parklet at Old Lodge Lane Parade began. In 2023, Croydon Council engaged with over 70 school children to understand what they love about Kenley and these ideas have influenced the design.

Sketch of Old Lodge Lane Parade Parklet

Recently a co-design workshop was held at New Valley Primary School. They suggested: treasure trails and games (hopscotch), seating, biodiverse planting, vegetable patches, insect hotels, soft play surfaces for younger children and a community noticeboard.

New Valley Primary School Engagement

Next steps:

• Croydon Council officers will work with a graphic design practice to progress a design that reflects what the local school children have suggested
• Following this, a final design will be drawn and discussed with the Kenley Community Advisory Group
• The design will be costed and a contractor will be selected
• Planning for construction will commence, in collaboration with the Kenley Community Advisory Group
• Construction and delivery will commence in collaboration with the Kenley Community Advisory Group

4. Healthy Streets

This is a series of proposals to Kenley Streets, to improve pedestrian road safety.

In 2020, Croydon Council commissioned WSP to complete a Transport Study. The report included proposals to address the key traffic conditions and pedestrian safety issues.

In 2023, On the 13th and 15th February 2023, site meetings were held, with Ward Councillors and representatives from KCAG, to carry out an appraisal of the proposals identified from past studies. The meetings identified the current highway constraints, geometric layout and traffic conditions.

Amendments were made to the WSP proposals to fit the budget envelope and align with the community’s priorities. During the site visits, it was recognised that measures for Hayes Lane (South) (to restrict traffic to residents) would impact on the immediate neighbouring roads. As such, a separate engagement event with residents of the neighbouring roads will be required to identify the most appropriate solution.

Kenley Lane South

Suggested idea to introduce a NO THROUGH RD sign to prevent drivers from entering Kenley Lane, which is closed at its end.

Aerodrome Approach

Suggested idea to add speed reducing measures, to include:

• reducing current posted speed limit of 40mph to 30mph

• build out to improve pedestrian safety at opposite entrance to Coulsdon Common, additional parking bays

• calming measures

Hayes Lane South

Suggested idea to restrict access to residents only through signage. This requires

additional engagement with impacted residents.

Above is a summary of proposals agreed with KCAG to be taken forward, excluding Hayes Lane which will be subject to engagement with local residents during Autumn 2023.

Next Steps:

• An engagement event will be organised for Hayes Lane proposals, in collaboration with Kenley Community Advisory Group (KCAG) (Autumn 2023)

• Following internal approvals, designs will be initiated and Road Safety Audits

completed

• Detailed costings to be prepared

• Statutory process to follow on from the design exercise (the drafting and making

of Traffic Management Orders)

• Planning for construction, in collaboration with Kenley Community Advisory Group

• Construction and delivery of the projects in collaboration with Kenley Community

Advisory Group

• A review of the project delivery in collaboration with Kenley Community Advisory Group

5. Electric Vehicle Charging Points

For car and van drivers, Croydon Council have seen a growing demand locally for Electric Vehicle Charging Points (EVCPs). In 2023, requests were made by local residents to have EVCPs near their homes.

Locations of Electric Vehicle Charging Points (yellow dots)

Next steps

• Electric Vehicle Charging Points are planned to be installed at the following

locations:

1. Graham Road – Purley & Woodcote

2. Haydn Avenue (2 locations) – Kenley

3. Oaklands Gardens – Kenley

4. Oaks Road – Kenley

• The consultation period has now ended and Officers will be following this up with

a report and arranging operational dates

6. Secure Cycle Hub

This is a secure cycle hub at Kenley Station.

Completed Cycle Hub

Croydon Council approached Govia Thameslink Railway in March to explore how a bike hub could be delivered Additional funding was secured from TFL and GTR.

The hub is designed with space for 16 bicycles and space for up to 4 cargo or adapted bicycles. Bikes are protected by the fob entry system and CCTV. The hub also has a repair stand and a pump for tyres.

The secure cycle hub is open. Collect your free entry fob from the Station Ticket Office

to start storing your bike.

7. Flood Alleviation

In 2016, you had a concern about flooding at the bottom of Welcomes Road. A number of solutions that could alleviate the flooding were investigated.

In 2023, construction of a water storage area began in 2023. This is Phase 1 of the works. Tree planting, ground planting and seating has also been installed, with watering ongoing through to September. All Saints & St Barnabas Churches have volunteered to help monitor and look after planting - all are welcome to add to the planting.

Next steps:

• Croydon Council will continue to oversee the implementation of the flood alleviation scheme by delivering Phase 2. Delivery of Phase 2 will be to convey the water from where it floods to the storage area

• Croydon Council are also exploring further traffic restrictions on parking in this area

• Kenley Community Advisory Group will be informed throughout future works

The Big Splash Public Exhibition & The Old Lodge Lane Community Hub Opening Launch

This event has now passed.

What was it? The Big Splash was a public exhibition event hosted by Croydon Council, in partnership with Kenley Community Advisory Group. The event was a showcase of the projects under the Connecting Kenley Programme as well as the opening celebration of the Old Lodge Lane Baptist Church Community Hub.

Where was it? Old Lodge Lane Baptist Church Community Hub, CR8 4BQ

When was it? Thursday 13th July, 3pm - 8pm. The opening ceremony commenced at 6pm.

Can I see the display boards from the event? Yes, you can find a link to the pdf on the right hand side of this page.

Have Your Say

The feedback form at the bottom of this page has now closed.

Photography by Glenn Foster Photography.