A couple have told Croydon Council they feel like they are being pushed out of the home where they wanted to live for the rest of their lives.

The comments came as a block of flats in Kenley was approved despite 60 neighbours objecting to the plans.

It will see a bungalow demolished to make way for nine new flats at 56 Welcomes Road, a narrow private road.

The current buildings in the road are a mix of one and two storey homes.

But now they will be joined by a three-storey block of flats made up of three three-bedroom and six two-bedroom flats.

Mr and Mrs Greenwood who live a few doors down from the new flats spoke in objection to the plans.

Mrs Greenwood said: “I object to the over-development of Welcomes Road. Number 60 has planning submitted, 57 is currently being built and number 52 has plans for flats currently being drawn up.

“This will leave the bungalow of 58 and 54 being hemmed in by flats on either side. My husband and I feel that enough is enough and are now considering our own situation.

“We had wished to remain in Welcomes Road and enjoy our wildlife-friendly garden until our deaths but this high level of destruction of our family homes with gardens for apartments is really changing our minds.”

For the construction of the new building, 11 trees will be taken down, a further six will be ‘trimmed’.

The council has asked the developer to replace them with new trees which will mean there are more trees than before on the site, but with no number specified.

There will be nine parking spaces as well as 18 cycle spaces.

Some members of the planning committee said that they were concerned that no lift was provided in the flats.

Councillor Leila Ben-Hassel said that some thought should be given to disabled people wanting to visit people in the block and said that a lift should be provided.

“It’s not just about a disabled person living there it’s also about disabled people who are visiting and I think it’s a consideration that should be given more thought,” she said.

“I am disappointed that there isn’t a lift and I am disappointed considering we’ve called a climate emergency that we don’t have more information about the use of sustainable materials.”

The plans were approved with five votes in favour and one abstention.