Plans for a new school, 24/7 gym and performing arts building are all included in the latest planning applications sent to Bexley and Bromley councils.
Local authorities receive hundreds of planning applications a week, which are all required to be validated.
Public comments in support and objection of plans can also be submitted to aid planning officers and local councillors in their decisions.
Several highlights from the most recent set of proposals can be found below, with more details available on the respective council’s website.
Performing arts building with sixth form centre at school
Farringtons School in Chislehurst has sent an application to Bromley Council to add a new performing arts centre building.
The plans said the building would provide a new multi-purpose space of 300 seats for assemblies and parents evenings.
They also said the school does not currently have space for music and drama performances and that end-of-year prize giving ceremonies were currently held in a marquee.
Planning documents from Grayston Alan Durtnell on behalf of the school said the building would add a new sixth form centre and link the senior and junior schools on the site.
The project would also hope to add a canopy to the netball court in the junior school and an equipment store to the existing sports hall.
The independent school on Perry Street currently has 700 pupils from year three up to sixth form.
Gym planned to open 24 hours seven days a week
Plans have been submitted for a new gym with unrestricted opening hours in Thamesmead.
The application, sent by Anytime Fitness to Bexley Council, seeks to change a unit in the ground floor of a new 10-storey tall block of 525 flats in Southmere Village into a gym.
Planning documents from Nexus Planning on behalf of Anytime Fitness said there should be no unacceptable impacts to nearby neighbours from the 24/7 gym.
They added that the ability to access the gym 24 hours a day allowed for members to exercise at a time convenient for them.
The plans also showed that noise assessments carried out by Cass Allen consultants suggested that equipment such as battle ropes and slam balls would not be included in the gym as they are “notoriously difficult” to reduce the noise of.
It was also recommended that treadmills would be given pads to isolate them from the floor and prevent noise disturbing residents in the flats above.
Special needs school in Orpington
Bromley Council has received plans to change an office building on Main Road in Orpington into a special needs school.
The plans, sent by Melrose Education Limited, said the new school would include 25 staff members including teachers and teaching assistants.
Planning documents from Walsingham Planning, on behalf of Melrose Education Limited, said that while Melrose Education was a private company, pupils with special educational needs would only be placed in the school if public funding was provided by Bromley Council.
The state-funded school would join The Learning Centre, another school run by Melrose Education in Bromley borough.
The company currently runs seven special schools across the UK.
Plans move forward to change a pub into a set of flats and shop in Welling
Bexley Council has received plans to allow vans and trucks to make deliveries on Sundays and bank holidays at a new Co-op store planned for Welling.
The application comes after permission was given in February 2021 to change the Lord Kitchener pub building into the new store and set of 19 flats on Wrotham Road.
The change is hoped not to affect peak hours of traffic in the area.
Planning documents from Pegasus Group on behalf of Co-operative Group Food said the new store will provide a valuable service to the local residents.
They added: “In order to properly serve the community, particularly on bank holiday weekends, it is vital that the store can maintain sufficient level of stock of as many products as possible, and therefore this application is submitted to extend the permitted delivery hours to include a short window on Sundays and bank holidays which can be accommodated without harm to the amenity of existing and future residents close to the site.”
Print and design centre to become flats
A proposal to convert an office building into a set of three flats in Biggin Hill has been received by Bromley Council.
Planning documents from Allen Planning on behalf of Empiric Estates said the two-storey building contains offices, with the ground floor being a former print and design centre.
The plans seek to create three studio flats, each with four windows and a parking space planned for each resident. The building is also cited as currently being empty.
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Picture 1: The former print and design centre that is planned to be turned into flats on Main Road in Biggin Hill. Permission for use by all LDRS partners. Credit: Allen Planning / Empiric Estates
Picture 2: East House in Farrringtons School in Chislehurst, the building where the original school was located. Permission for use by all LDRS partners. Credit: Grayston Alan Durtnell / Farrintons School
Picture 3: The Mill House in Orpington, which was previously used as an office building and is now planned to become a special needs school. Permission for use by all LDRS partners. Credit: Google Earth
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