Kings Hall Road Beckenham plans for new nursery and flats

Fennies Day Nursery has sent plans to Bromley Council to build a new set of flats and nursery in Beckenham.

The plans would see the current nursery on Kings Hall Road, dating back to 1988, being converted into four flats.

The project also seeks to build two new buildings up to three storeys tall nearby for 18 new flats and a replacement nursery.

A CGI of the new flats proposed for the project (photo: Lipton Plant Architects / Fennies Day Nursery

The nursery would include places for 150 children and create 40 jobs for the area, with the existing bowling club on the site being knocked down in the process.

The plans have received 88 objections from locals, with one resident saying the area was already “notorious” for accidents, speeding and parking issues.

Locals feared that the increased visits to the area from parents dropping off children at the nursery could make problems worse.

One local said in their objection: “I worry about children crossing behind parked cars. I myself was nearly run over by a car driving on the wrong side around a traffic island, which sadly is becoming a more regular occurrence as they speed round the bend.”

Another resident added: “Having lived here for over 15 years, there have been numerous road traffic accidents which will only worsen when another road of traffic is introduced to a fast stretch of Kings Hall Road.

"I was nearly knocked over when trying to cross near Bailes Place at the island when a car overtook another travelling on the wrong side.

"I have witnessed this several times so would certainly worry if there were young children crossing as no one expects traffic to come from the wrong way.”

Planning documents from Lipton Plant Architects, on behalf of Fennies Day Nursery, said a set of pre-application meetings were held with residents in 2021, with the feedback helping to form the plans.

This included widening the access road to the new nursery by approximately two metres.

They also added that a nursery travel plan could be added as a condition to the project if necessary, and that discussions had taken place with Bromley Council highways officers.

The transport assessment for the project, provided by Evoke Transport, said: “The surrounding highway network provides good pedestrian facilities ensuring that walking is a safe and suitable method of travel when routing to local facilities and amenities.

"To the rear of the Former Cypher Bowls Club is Cator Park which provides a number of off-carriageway walking routes to local services and facilities including New Beckenham Station.”

They added: “The proposals would not constitute a severe impact on the local highway network, nor would there be an unacceptable impact on highway safety.”

The plans for the new flats and replacement nursery will be discussed at a planning meeting for Bromley Council on November 23.