Why New Homes Are Proposed

There is a clear opportunity to deliver a high-quality residential scheme on the site, transforming long-term underused land into a well-connected, attractive neighbourhood, delivering lasting benefits for the wider community.

The site is currently under-utilised, with poor biodiversity and limited environmental, visual, and community value, representing an inefficient use of land within a highly constrained borough.  

There is also a significant need for new homes locally, including affordable homes, across London and Bromley. The proposals seek to make a positive contribution by providing 50% affordable housing as part of a modest and carefully planned development.

The project team recognises that the site is sensitive because it is located in the Green Belt and is shown on mapping as a playing field. These matters are being carefully assessed through technical work, including Green Belt, landscape, ecology, drainage and transport assessments.

 A key benefit of the proposals is the delivery of 50% affordable housing. Affordable housing is important because many people and families struggle to find suitable homes they can afford in London and Bromley. The proposals would help provide a mix of homes, including affordable homes, in a planned and managed development.

Green Belt

The site is located within the Green Belt and this is an important planning consideration. We feel the land is better described as Grey belt land, which is a classification of land within local Green belts that is:

  • Previously developed, degraded, underused or visually weak; or

  • Poorly performing against Green Belt purposes; or

  • Contained by existing development or infrastructure; or

  • Land that does not strongly contribute to openness or preventing urban sprawl.

A Green Belt and landscape appraisal has been prepared to assess the site’s contribution to Green Belt purposes and the likely landscape and visual considerations. The appraisal concludes that the site does not contribute strongly to Green Belt purposes A, B or D, and assesses the site as Grey Belt in the context of national planning policy. 

Biodiversity and Open Space

The proposals will be landscape-led, with new planting, green infrastructure, biodiversity improvements and careful consideration of the site’s edges and relationship with surrounding land.

 At present the site has limited ecological value. The proposals will include biodiversity enhancements and new landscaped areas. Potential measures include:

  • Native tree and hedgerow planting

  • New habitats

  • Biodiversity net gain

  • Sustainable drainage features

  • Play space

  • Landscape buffers

  • Long-term landscape management

The design will seek to improve the site’s ecological value and provide attractive green areas within the development.