victorian asylum in 'peaceful' south london town to be turned into flats

The new development is part of a wider Cane Hill Park regeneration project (Picture: Getty Images)

In a quiet suburb in Croydon,a Victorian Gothic chapel stands as one of the remaining sentinels of Cane Hill Hospital,a sprawling psychiatric facility.

The chapel at Chaucer Gardens,one of the few surviving structures from the former Cane Hill Hospital,is set to undergo a significant transformation into a mixed-use development combining residential flats with commercial amenities.

The planning application,submitted by developers Planning Resolution on behalf of Tectonic Space Ltd,proposes converting the chapel into nine high-quality apartments alongside a ground-floor café,retail space,and co-working facilities.

The proposed scheme will see the chapel’s interior divided into nine flats ranging from one to four bedrooms.

Meanwhile,the co-working space will include a lounge,meeting rooms,and breakout areas designed to support modern work patterns,blending community engagement with commercial viability.

The building currently accommodates operational utilities,including BBC transmission equipment and a restroom regularly used by local bus drivers,and these facilities are planned to be retained within the new design.

The hospital was established in the 1880s (Picture: Associated Newspapers)

The development also features private gardens for the ground-floor flats and roughly 500 square metres of communal outdoor space that links seamlessly to the larger green areas of Cane Hill Park.

While minor external modifications,such as the addition of roof dormers and new windows,are included to enhance natural light and living standards,special care has been taken to preserve the chapel’s historic characteristics and façade.

The chapel redevelopment forms part of the wider Cane Hill Park regeneration project,which replaces the former Cane Hill Hospital site — a psychiatric institution that was established in the early 1880s and closed in 2008 — with a new sustainable neighbourhood.

The institution closed fully in 2008 (Picture: Shutterstock / Tom_Sanderson)

The old hospital was left derelict for some time (Picture: Shutterstock / Tom_Sanderson)

This comprehensive development comprises 675 new homes,including flats and detached houses,combined with green spaces,retail offerings,and healthcare facilities,providing a mixed residential and community environment.

Local reaction to the chapel’s proposed conversion has been mostly favourable,with 20 statements of support outnumbering 14 objections as of late October.

Croydon Council is expected to determine the planning application by late November.

Coulsdon locals have taken to social media to praise the quality of life in the area,with many applauding its green spaces.

In the subreddit r/Croydon,several users recommended it as ‘the best place to live in Croydon’,with one writing,‘Coulsdon is very green’,and another agreeing that it’s ‘nicer and greener’ than other parts of Croydon.

Another user called it ‘peaceful and leafy with great views’.

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The nearby Farthing Downs is a popular spot for walking and wildlife spotting,situated at the tip of the North Downs.

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