Orpington's locals form Residents' Association opposing plans for former the Police Station

The Lancing Residents' Association (RA) was formed roughly a month ago to protest turning the former Orpington Police Station into 83 homes and a Health and Wellbeing Centre.

Consisting of one and two bedroom flats - reaching nine storeys high in places - plans by Berkeley Homes also include a retail unit for shops or a cafe.

However, Dave Padgham and the Lancing Residents' Association are displeased with plans, and claim 39 responses to a consultation do not adequately reflect the opinion of residents.

Only one parking space - a disabled one - is planned for the Health and Wellbeing Centre, which is expecting around 2,500 - 3,000 patients per week as part of two GP practices also relocating to the site.

Only cycle storage and no parking spaces will be provided for staff, as developers envisage an increased use of public transport for patients and workers due to its town centre proximity.

Mr Padgham, 31, says locals fear a crippling impact on traffic and parking in the vicinity after just 45 residential parking spaces, including four disabled parking bays, have been planned for.

The father-of-one said: "With some of these flats two bed, that could be well over 100 people. In this day and age everyone has a car; the people who can afford these homes at a couple hundred thousand will be professional people who will most likely have a car.

"Some people will use bikes, but will people cycle during the depths of winter?"

A spokesperson for Berkeley Homes stated: "The site is constrained and as a result there is no further ability to provide greater on-site parking.

"There is a dedicated blue badge car park on Homefield Rise and multi-storey car parks adjacent and close by as well as on-street and surface pay and display parking."

Commenting on claims that responses to their consultation were low, a spokesperson added: "Over 1,700 letters were sent (i.e. to 1,700 homes) inviting residents to come along to the consultation.

"The number of local residents wishing to attend the consultation or exhibition events is outside of our control.

"We chose to hold a further exhibition following receipt of comments by a Residents Association."

The site, in The Walnuts, was acquired by property developer Berkeley Homes after The Met vacated the building late last year.

A spokesperson for Bromley Council said: "We will assess this application carefully and consider the planning merits before making our decision in the usual way at a Planning Committee."

The application will be decided by the council's Development Control Committee, with a date yet to be set.

To view the application visit the Council’s website using reference: 14/03316/FULL1

To get in touch with Lancing Residents' Association contact: lancingresidentsassociation@gmail.com

What are your thoughts on the application? Leave your comments below.