New Addington - Controversial Reputation

Controversial Reputation

New Addington has suffered from a bad reputation in the neighbouring areas, reflecting upon anti-social behaviour and gang violence involving youths on the estate from the 1970s to the present, as well as the perceived poor standard of schools. The area has received mixed press over the years, with educational and health standards low, with a high number of teenage mothers, particularly in Fieldway. New Addington is known locally by the nickname "Addo".

A gang from New Addington, involved in the 2011 London riots, was convicted and jailed in August 2012. The estate was also the scene of the disappearance and death of teenager Tia Sharp.

Its isolation has nonetheless given it a strong sense of community and independence. The Croydon Advertiser publishes a separate New Addington edition. The presence of the library, youth clubs, leisure centre, shops, churches and street market enables locals to lead full lives in many ways. The Addington Community Association has provided an important hub for the community. However, the distance from Croydon and other centres, with only patchy bus services, prevented New Addington residents from being able to access a full range of employment and educational facilities or indeed shops.

Beginning in the late 1990s, there has been an improvement in quality of life in and perception of New Addington and Fieldway. The area was declared one of the first Education Action Zones by the Labour government, with extra investment and opportunities for partnership for schools. The majority of the houses were bought by their tenants, which some say has led to renewed pride in their properties and community. The London Borough of Croydon increased its investment in the remaining housing stock and in the leisure and youth facilities. It also organised a neighbourhood partnership for the estate which local people lead to hold public institutions to account.

But perhaps the most important improvement was the arrival of Tramlink (route 3) in 2000, providing a connection with Croydon and Wimbledon in a little over 20 minutes, and from there connections to central London. This provided the opportunity of a greater choice of schools and jobs. Several 'feeder' bus routes were also introduced to connect with Tramlink, along with general enhancement to bus services in the area. More recently the Octagon Cyber Café has been opened by the London Borough of Croydon, although Tesco closed its supermarket and Lidl have bought, closed down and have demolished the Cunningham pub, one of six in New Addington and Fieldway for redevelopment. The store was finally approved planning application and was constructed during 2010. It opened in the New Year of 2011. But local residents are still not happy with the overall size of the development which includes 14 flats above the store. The remaining public houses are the Man on the Moon, the Warbank, the ACA and the Randall Tavern.

New Addington is still surrounded by open space, woodland and golf courses, including some important chalk downland sites. It is on the top of a hill and its temperature can be noticeably colder on the estate than in surrounding lower areas, lending a meteorological justification to the 'Little Siberia' epithet.