New applications regarding trees in public spaces can be found below.

Residents who require further information can look up the planning application on Bromley Council website at the link below using the relevant planning reference.

Bromley Council Planning

2A Bromley Grove – cut back selected branches to give a clearance of 2 metres from the property and crown lift to give a clearance of no more than six metres above ground level

Planning Reference: 13/00551/TPO

A planning application to build  a two storey extension to provide 8 self contained flats (6 x 2 bedroom and 2 x 1 bedroom) above the Barclays Bank has been submitted.  The previous application to build flats above the bank was refused. 

Details can be found on Bromley Councils website at the link below:

3 Beckenham Road Beckenham BR3 4ES

Any residents who wish to comment on the planning application must do so before Thursday 7 March 2012.  You can comment by email to planning@bromley.gov.uk  (Reference: 13/00407/FULL), however you must ensure that you provide your full name and address including your post code.  Failure to provide these details will mean your comments will not be not accepted.

APPLICATION TO REGISTER LAND BEHIND 94-98 AND 126 HIGH STREET, BECKENHAM AS A TOWN OR VILLAGE GREEN

Planning permission is given for construction of 3 blocks of 4 storey flats on the site, however, local residents backing on to the site formed Central Beckenham Resident’s Association and lodged an application for the site to be designated a ‘Town Green’.  If the Town Green application was successful it would have superseded any planning permission granted on the site.

A public enquiry was held by QC Annabel Graham Paul in regard to the Town Green Application, were evidence was given by Central Beckenham Resident’s Association among others.  The outcome of the enquiry can be found at the link below.

Inspectors Report

On the recommendation of the Inspector Report, Bromley Council declined to register land behind 94-98 and 126 High Street, Beckenham as a town or village green. This means the development of 3 blocks of 4 storey flats on the site will likely go ahead

A planning application submitted to extend the car park at New Beckenham Station will be welcome news for rail users.  The additional car parking will be located on the wasteland between the railway line and the gardens at the Lennard Rd end of Kings Hall Rd. The plans are for permeable concrete and that most of the existing trees will remain.

Decision of Planning Inspectorate

The appeal by the developer is allowed and planning permission is granted for 3 four storey blocks comprising 9 one bedroom, 32 two bedroom and 3 three bedroom flats, with 41 car parking spaces, bicycle parking, landscaping and access to the rear of 88-90 High Street, Beckenham BR3 1ED.

Bromley Council are also liable to pay the developer partial costs.

Conclusions of the Planning Inspectorate

For the above reasons the overall conclusion is that by comparison with the extant permitted scheme there would be no greater impact on the character and appearance of the area or the living conditions of neighbouring residents and some effects would be reduced.

The proposed scheme also makes suitable provision for access, parking, the mitigation of flood risk, education infrastructure, affordable housing, landscaping and wildlife. The proposal would help to meet the need for market and affordable housing in an accessible location whilst making efficient use of previously developed land.

The appeal scheme is in overall accordance with the provisions of the development plan and there are no material considerations indicating that a decision should be taken other than in accordance with the development plan. The appeal should therefore be allowed.

Last week Bromley Council refused the planning application to build restaurants in Queens Gardens (behind the Glades, adjacent to Kentish Way). The application has caused controversy as part of the land is in a conservation area, the new restaurant chains may take trade away from the recently regenerated Bromley North area and a view that Bromley is currently too saturated with restaurants (what will happen to the site if the new restaurants are not profitable).

A planning application to turn the long vacant old conservative club into a B&B has been lodged with the council.

Details can be found on http://www.bromley.gov.uk at the link below:

http://searchapplications.bromley.gov.uk/onlineapplications/applicationDetails.do?activeTab=summary&keyVal=M2PONFBTJX000

A proposal to erect a detached two storey four bedroom house with associated car parking and replacement garage for No. 30 at land rear of 32 Church Avenue was refused by Bromley Council this week. This decision is significant as the proposal is adjacent to the controversial site at the  Rear of 86 to 94 High Street Beckenham (which is awaiting an appeal decision). There are fears that ‘backland’ development behind the houses on Church Road could change the scope of the high density development planned for the Rear of 86 to 94 High Street Beckenham. This decision will be welcomed by local residents.

The reasons for refusal were:
1 The proposal, by reason of its size and siting, would constitute an inappropriate form backland development within a protected woodland, thereby contrary to Policies BE1, H7 and NE8 of the Unitary Development Plan.
2 The proposed development does not provide adequate servicing of the site,
contrary to Policy T17 of the Unitary Development Plan.

Developers of a three story block of flats at the rear of 86-94 High Street (behind Pierluigis Restaurant) lodged an appeal against Bromley Councils non-determination of their planning application. The Planning Inspectorate will decide whether or not the planning application should be permitted. Bromley Council are contesting the appeal today  at 10 am at Bromley Civic Centre (see previous post on R/O 86-94 High Street for background information).

The Central Beckenham Residents’ Association founded in October 2011 to challenge this planning application  provide further information on their website.

https://sites.google.com/site/centralbeckenhamra/home

Those who have followed the case for many months on our website  will recall that the application by Leander Sports and Leisure to develop and regenerate the site was given outline planning consent at Bromley Council’s Development Control Committee on 12th January 2012. It was then subject to direction by the Mayor of London.

Sport England  lodged an objection to the Greater London Authority (GLA) and to the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government in regard to football facilities,  this was in spite of the fact that Leander Sports and Leisure had agreed a substantial contribution to the LBB to repair and upgrade football pitches the Council already owns in other parts of the Borough. Naturally there  was concern that further unnecessary delay could lead the Kent County Cricket Club to reassess their position in Beckenham.

However, after major discussions and negotiations last week, Sport England withdrew their objection and the GLA have confirmed that they are satisfied. The Secretary of State should now respond as to whether the application will be “called in” n for decision at that level.

We can confirm that the Secretary of State will not be “calling in” the planning application. The development now has final approval for the outline application.

In due course there will be a further application for approval of details such as height, bulk, external appearance of buildings including the residential element, sight lines between buildings as they will affect outlook for residents in adjacent roads, access arrangements from the highway to the site, specific layout of parking areas, landscaping etc. We will keep you informed.

See previous post on Kent County Cricket Ground

The National Planning Policy Framework

Last July a new draft policy framework document was published which was intended to replace more than 1200 pages of planning guidance set out as rules regulations and laws in numerous different documents. The really controversial element in the draft was the presumption in favour of sustainable development in adjudicating on any planning application. It was not so much the idea of sustainability but the lack of precision as to what “sustainable” meant. There was a public outcry about this and what were regarded as the other harmful elements within the draft and The National Trust and the Daily Telegraph (amongst many other institutions) spearheaded public campaigns within the consultation period and have largely kept the pressure up ever since. From mid-October the Coalition partners in Government have been rewriting the framework and it was the revised document that was published on Monday this week.

Initial reaction seems to be that the revision, with the checks and balances now inserted, go a long way to allay the earlier fears and concerns. The full document can be picked up from the Government website but the major changes are set out below.

* Local plans produced by Councils should take account of market signals, such as land prices and housing affordability and set out a clear strategy for allocating sufficient land which is suitable for development in the their area, taking account of the needs of the residential and business communities. The framework stresses that proposals should be approved unless any adverse impacts of doing so would significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits.

* There is a substantial definition of sustainable development set out in the five guiding principles of living within the planet’s environmental limits, ensuring a strong healthy and just society, achieving a sustainable economy, promoting good governance and using sound science responsibly.

* Apart from the earlier protections given for the green belt, Sites of Special Scientific Interest and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty there is now explicit recognition of the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside. Planners are instructed to take account of the different roles and character of different areas, promoting the vitality of our main urban areas, protecting the green belts around them, recognising the intrinsic character and beauty of the countryside and supporting thriving rural communities.

* Greater emphasis is given to brownfield development. Planners are urged to encourage the effective use of land by reusing land that has been previously developed, provided it is not of high environmental value.

* Major sporting bodies had worried that the policy changes embodied in the earlier document might lead to a reduction in facilities for schools and clubs. Now assessments made must clearly show the loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location; or the development is for alternative sports and recreational provision, the needs of which clearly outweigh the loss.

What will the mean for Beckenham and Bromley Council? Its too early to say, a grace period of 12 months has been inserted so that Councils can update local plans or draw up new ones.  We will keep you updated.