A resident of one of Croydon’s largest housing developments claims that a lack of cycle storage left him no choice but to park his e-bike outside, where it was later stolen.
David Ortiz, who lives in Altura 50 on College Road, says his bike was stolen last year after he was unable to use the building’s cycle storage facilities. He claims that three of the building’s four-cycle storage hubs were unavailable to residents.
He argues that this means that many residents are forced to leave their bikes on the street. He told the LDR scheme, “I had to manoeuvre my bike into a new space because it was so packed. They are supposed to provide this; it’s supposed to be a car-free development.”
Croydon Council has now opened an enforcement investigation into whether the building’s cycle storage arrangements breach planning conditions.
Completed in 2022, Altura 50 is Europe’s tallest volumetric modular building and contains almost 1,000 flats. The largely car-free development was approved with 259 cycle parking spaces and close links to East Croydon station.
However, David showed LDRS that only 78 of the 239 cycle parking spaces designated for residents were accessible at the time.
They observed that one basement storage hub was being used to store furniture, paint and maintenance equipment.
David said: “I am being discriminated against because I have an e-bike. It is strange because cycling is part of where the world is going. They should be supporting that, instead of punishing me for it.”
His tenancy agreement prohibits him from storing his e-bike inside the building, despite no explanation being given for the restriction.
He believes that the situation may conflict with planning requirements. Croydon’s Local Plan, which sets design rules for new developments in the borough, requires adequate cycle parking and provision for e-bikes, cargo bikes and adapted bikes.
The issue has surfaced before. In 2024, the building’s previous management sought permission for a phased cycle parking plan, arguing that demand for resident bike storage in the block was “unlikely to be high” because of the building’s location and the availability of 130 hire bikes provided by management, according to planning documents submitted to the council.
David added that the 130 hire bikes take up a lot of the space in the storage, and he doesn’t believe many people use them. He said, “I don’t know anyone who has used the rental bikes; no one really knows about them.”
A Croydon Council spokesperson said: “We are aware of concerns regarding the use of cycle storage facilities at Altura 50.
“The council’s planning enforcement team has recently opened an enforcement case and is investigating whether the current use of the areas is in line with the planning permission and condition attached to the development. As part of this process, officers will review the information available and determine whether any further action is required.
Compass Rock International was approached for comment but had not responded at the time of publication.
12 thoughts on “Three out of four cycle storage hubs inaccessible at “car-free” tower block, forcing residents to leave bikes on the street”
Imagine if a housing development was sold as “car friendly” and had 239 parking spots for 1000 flats.
Not to mention that there are places with “secure cycle storage” which isn’t – so you can look forward to anything fancier than a bike-shaped-object disappearing, and random vandalism.
Like my current flats where the security turned out to be provided by some wooden panels screwed into place. It provided security for the thieves who could cut through my locks in privacy (there’s CCTV about, but obviously none covering the bike storage. Not that this is any use if someone does steal as police won’t investigate many thefts these days).
Interestingly I believe some “low-car” developments in NL do only provide a small proportion of car parking relative to number of flats (and that some distance from buildings), while providing cycle storage *is* required by building regulations!
Currently that would likely be national news in the UK and have a few politicians railing about people being trapped / wokery…
@chrisonabike I think low car is starting to feature in development policy in UK cities too – you can build here, but your residents won’t be eligible for an on-street permit.
In more central urban places maybe.
Not visible in Edinburgh’s West Craigs city-edge development though (still being built).
Despite “nice things” like “rain gardens” and “shared use” and a scatter of Sheffield stands … these are details on what appears to still be a UK version of a 1970’s US driver’s suburbia.
Connectivity with public transport? There’s a bus… the estate could connect to tram/ train directly, but doesn’t *.
Massive wide roads even though it’s supposed to be 20mph? Check. Through -permeable for motor traffic? Check. Shared use not separate cycling and walking paths? Check. Do these give up at every side street? Check…
I predict driving to the shops (very close as the crow flies, but again not directly connected on foot / by bike).
(TBF perhaps the planning for that was agreed a very long time back? They’re still building it though…)
* which would involve a tunnel under the railway / lofty bridge over it (would need a lot of space – and think the railways folk aren’t keen) so no doubt would add significant cost…
@chrisonabike The intense resistance Network Rail seem to put up against absolutely any infrastructure project near the railways that would lead to more passengers on the railways is perpetually baffling to me.
This is a cheap gag (and I have nothing against Altura), but maybe if you want more fully featured bike storage you need to move to the Endura 50 or Castelli 50 building.
Building looks like a ginger grater.
I’d assume and hope that due to this situation (not being able to store his bike securely, when there was adequate space) he can claim the cost of his bike from the property management company.
@mitsky “Good luck with that”…
Yet another case of planning agreements made but never fulfilled, nor checked by the LA. Developers can do what they want, it seems
Not sure how informative that is. I imagine for all most of us know it could be Europe’s only ‘volumetric modular building’. 🤷♂️