Plans for new Bromley tower blocks up to 14-storeys tall refused

Bromley Council has refused plans from Ringers Road Properties Limited to build nearly 100 flats in Bromley town centre.

The project included 94 new flats, 35 per cent of which would be “affordable”, across two 14 and 12-storey tall buildings on Ringers Road and Ethelbert Road.

The plans have received 109 objections from locals online, calling the design and height of the project an “eyesore” and “sterile”.

A CGI of the towers planned for Ringers Road and Ethelbert Road

The plans were discussed at a development control meeting for Bromley Council on November 30. Council officers recommended the plans be rejected in their report, stating the design and layout of the project was considered excessive.

Councillors also expressed concerns about the possibility of overlooking from the flats.

Mark Batchelor, speaking on behalf of Ringers Road Properties Limited, said at the meeting: “The flats have a generous outlook. Again recognising the location, it is in a town centre. You’re not going to have wide reaching views across rolling hills.

"You will have an urban outlook from your flat and the experience anybody will have within their property is comparable to that which you would expect in any urban location where there is high density development.”

The committee also noted the lack of family homes offered in the development, with only one and two-bedroom flats being proposed.

Labour Councillor Alisa Igoe also asked Mr Batchelor about the fire safety provisions in the building, as London Fire Brigade had raised concerns about the lack of a dedicated lobby for residents waiting for evacuation lifts.

Mr Batchelor said in response that the developer had focused on one and two-bedroom flats due to the nature of the area the site was located in.

He added that Bromley Council’s Local Plan claimed one and two-bedroom flats were in a greater need in the borough overall when compared to other forms of housing.

The representative also said that the design of the building had been updated to comply with the latest fire safety regulations.

Lib Dem Councillor Chloe-Jane Ross said at the meeting that she felt it was short sighted of the developers not to include homes for young families in the development.

She said she liked the design at the bottom portion of the buildings, but found the overall height of the project to be too tall and “overbearing”.

Conservative Councillor Alexa Michael said at the meeting: “As much as I would like to see housing in the town centre, it has to be suitable. It’s got to be appropriate and I’m afraid this doesn’t make the grade as far as I can see.”

The development control committee voted to refuse the plans for the new tower blocks at Ringers Road and Ethelbert Road in a 13-2 vote.