Part of the grounds of a listed church will be torn down to make way for two new tower blocks, despite concerns over the development.

Developer Barratt London was given permission last month to demolish existing buildings at 6 to 44 Station Road in West Croydon and a grade I-listed boundary wall at the Church of St Michaels and All Angels to make way for 232 apartments and a public square.

The North End site also adjoins the Central Croydon conservation area and is a designated archaeological priority zone.

Since the pre-planning process started in 2012 the planning committee has raised concerns with officers about the impact the towers will have on the heritage of the area.

The Greater London Authority and Historic England reiterated these concerns during the consultation period, warning the towers will have a “significant impact” on the church and could harm the setting “by virtue of dwarfing the principal remaining view of the church”.

But a report to the planning committee last month said the harm caused as a result of the development was considered “less than substantial” and the demolition of the boundary wall is “considered to improve the setting of the church”.

Instead the committee asked officers to incorporate the history of the site in the 41 planning conditions included in the approval. Barratt will also have to provide public art and protect the remaining heritage listed buildings, and the site will be subject to an archaeological evaluation.

A spokeswoman for Barratt London said the development forms part of “wider regeneration plans for the area”.

She added: “The ground-level ‘plinths’ of the towers will incorporate the facades of several existing buildings, providing a visual gateway to a new public square.”

The 21 and 25-storey buildings, to be built over three years, will include 15 per cent affordable housing and disabled parking.