Former Golden Lion, Caterham-on-the-Hill: Mixed-Use Redevelopment for 12 Homes and Class E Floorspace

Maddox Planning provided planning advice for the redevelopment of the former Golden Lion site at the prominent roundabout junction of Chaldon Road and Town End, in the heart of Caterham-on-the-Hill.

The proposals comprised demolition of the vacant public house and a mixed-use building of up to 4 storeys, delivering flexible commercial (Class E) floorspace at ground level with 12 apartments (Class C3) above, alongside car and cycle parking, refuse storage and hard/soft landscaping.

This is a town-centre, brownfield opportunity where the planning case is anchored in principle: the site sits within the Caterham Hill Local Centre, is identified in the Caterham Town Masterplan SPD (Area 6) for mixed-use, and is allocated for housing in the neighbourhood plan.

A key issue was balancing the loss of a community use against the public benefits of redevelopment. Our work set out the rationale in policy terms, including the site’s long vacancy and the availability of alternative pubs nearby, and placed weight on the scheme’s contribution to local centre vitality, employment floorspace, homes and improved connectivity through the site.

Design was also been central to the evolution of the scheme through pre-application discussions: the massing was reduced, the roof form simplified into staggered gables to break down perceived bulk, and the layout refined to protect commercial frontage and improve legibility and access. The aim is a building that reads as part of the townscape while marking a prominent corner location.

The proposed development on Former Golden Lion site, Caterham