Shrublands Estate

After the Second World War, Croydon's severe housing shortage prompted the Council to make a compulsory Purchase order on the 137 acre golf course. The area was soon covered in prefabs, and by 1955 Croydon Council had formulated an important plan for the development of the area as a brand new estate.

To obtain a slightly rural atmosphere it was proposed that the areas between the houses should as far as possible be communal grass areas. Each house to have an enclosed back garden. The buildings were planned to vary in height between one and four storeys, with three eleven storey blocks (although the latter plan was changed to six storeys before being built).

The estate was to be well provided with children's play areas, and shops, doctors' surgeries, community hall and other amenities were all planned. A forward-looking feature was that the estate was to be a 'smokeless zone' right from the beginning.

Fifteen firms tendered for the contract, and Carlton Contractors Ltd. of Epsom were successful. By 1959 the estate was complete.

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Tuesday, 13 May, 2008

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