South London neighbourhood ‘becoming dumping ground for takeaways’ as another chicken shop planned

Croydon residents say the late-night takeaway could worsen noise and anti-social behaviour on London Road

A Croydon resident has said Norbury is “being treated as a dumping ground for late-night takeaways” as a new chicken shop seeks permission to open until 2am every night.

Opponents of the licensing application for the site of a former Lloyds Bank argue that the area needs more community-focused businesses rather than another fast-food venue. Residents also fear the business could exacerbate existing anti-social behaviour.

Hot Birdies Ltd, which has other franchises across London, has applied for a late-night refreshment licence at 1433 London Road, Norbury, allowing it to serve hot food and drinks from 11pm to 2am, seven days a week.

In submissions ahead of next Tuesday’s (September 15) licensing committee meeting, residents laid out their objections to the new takeaway.

“We are living in a state of constant sleep deprivation, which is affecting our health and our ability to work,” said one London Road resident living in a flat above the high street.

Neighbours have also raised concerns about litter, loitering customers and blocked driveways. One resident claimed: “When we ask them to turn the music down or move, we are met with abuse and threats of violence.”

A joint objection from Labour councillors, including Norbury and Pollards Hill representative Leila Ben-Hassel, also claimed that delivery drivers act “with no regard for the residents sleeping above”.

1433 London Road occupies a grand corner plot at the junction with Stanford Road. It was previously home to Norbury’s Lloyds Bank branch, which closed in 2023.

The subsequent closure of NatWest further along the road in 2024 left Norbury without a dedicated bank.

The stretch of London Road between Croydon and Streatham already has a high concentration of fast-food outlets.

The venue sits within a designated Cumulative Impact Assessment Area because of high levels of crime and alcohol-related disorder along London Road. This allows the council to consider the combined impact of existing licensed premises when assessing new applications, rather than considering each one in isolation.

While the policy primarily applies to alcohol-focused off-licences, local ward councillors argue its underlying principle should also apply in this case to prevent further late-night saturation along London Road.

However, Hot Birdies Ltd has stressed that it does not intend to sell alcohol and has offered several management conditions following discussions with the Metropolitan Police. It has agreed to operate a 24-hour CCTV system and carry out regular litter patrols in the surrounding area.

The company has also proposed a strict delivery driver policy, requiring moped drivers to wait quietly inside and switch off their engines on arrival. It argues that the takeaway would bring investment to a vacant high-street unit, create local jobs and boost footfall during quieter hours.

A final decision on the application is expected within five working days of next week’s licensing meeting.

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