This is the second of a series of regular bi-monthly updates on planning and development in the Copers Cope area. Our aim is to provide you with a concise and informative snapshot of recent planning applications, decisions and appeals.
Further Major Residential Development on Worsley Bridge Road
Another large-scale residential development is planned on Station Approach near to Lower Sydenham Railway Station at the northern end of Worsley Bridge Road. The site, presently occupied by Footsies Social Club and playing fields, is on a wedge of open land situated between the New Beckenham / Lower Sydenham rail line and the Pool River, and is next to the old Dylon site where 220 flats are under currently construction.
In February last year an application (15/00701/FULL1) was made to demolish the existing single-storey buildings on the edge of the Footsies site and construct a building of varying height, from eight to twelve storeys, to provide 296 residential units, a new estate road, parking and cycling spaces and landscaping of land to be accessible by the public. The scheme comprises of 148No. one-bedroom, 135No. two-bedroom and 13No. three-bedroom flats.
In September last year the application was refused and it is now the subject of an appeal. The appeal hearing is due to start on 24th May this year.
Following the refusal of this scheme, the developer submitted a second application (15/04759/FULL1) in November last year for a slightly smaller scheme comprising of a building of eight and nine storeys containing 253 residential units, estate road, parking and landscaping. This application is currently under consideration by LBB.
2 The Drive, off Beckenham High Street
The Planning Inspectorate last month upheld the Council’s enforcement action with regard to the various partially built extensions to the house, just off the High Street and just outside of the Conservation Area. The Inspectorate also dismissed the three appeals made by the owner and ordered him to pay the costs of the appeals.
The property has had a long planning history. In his report, the Planning Inspector noted that seventeen planning applications had been made over a period of fourteen years. Of these, five had been permitted though often not implemented in accordance with the consent. Of the refusals he had received, the owner had made five appeals, in addition to the three that were the subject of this latest inquiry.
Full details of the decision can be found here:
61 The Avenue 15/02728/FULL6
Last year a proposal to demolish the existing house and replace it with two blocks of flats containing a total of 8 two-bedroom flats was refused consent. The scheme has subsequently been dismissed at appeal.
Royce House, 56a Copers Cope Road 15/02068/OUT
An outline planning application made last year to demolish the existing houses at 56A and 56B and replace them with five, three-storey, four-bedroom houses was refused permission on the grounds that it constituted an over-development of the site. The applicant has appealed against this decision and the hearing was due to take place on 22 March. At the time of writing the decision was still to be announced.
Land behind 56a Foxgrove Road 15/05329
An application was made in December last year for a 3-storey block of flats on land presently occupied by garages behind 56A Foxgrove Road. The proposal is for 6No. two-bedroom and 3No. three-bedroom flats, plus parking. The plans indicate up to 16 trees being removed and the footprint of the new building extending right up to the root-protection zones of the the few mature trees being retained. The council have yet to make their decision.
14 Southend Road 16/00267/FULL1
An application has just been submitted to convert the house at 14 Southend Road to seven flats. The proposal includes a four-storey side and rear extension to the existing house to create 2No. one-bedroom and 4No. two-bedroom apartments. The house is situated in the Southend Road Conservation Area and was built in the late 1840s
1A Wickham Road, Peach Design Printers 15/05100/FULL2
The second application for a change of use to the three-storey building from a printer’s office to a House of Multiple Occupation with seven bedrooms (four of which have en-suite bathrooms) and shared dining and bathroom facilities, after the first application for eight bedrooms was refused on the grounds of below-standard provision, is still under consideration by the Council.
96 Bromley Road 15/04782
The application to convert the vacant veterinary clinic premises, situated between Rituals hair salon and In2Pappadom on Bromley Road, to a take-away, was refused permission last week. The reasons for the refusal had not been published at the time or writing, however there had been strong opposition to the proposal on a number of issues from local residents and groups.
Nat West Sports Ground, Copers Cope Road 15/04801/FULL1
An application has been made for a hand car-wash business on Copers Cope Road situated on the strip of land between the Goals all-weather football pitches and the road. The application includes a low-level canopy for washing cars and a portakabin office.
Change of use from Commercial to Residential
Three years ago, the Government relaxed the planning laws to make it very easy to convert office premises to residential use. Over this period, the majority of office space on Beckenham High Street, much of which was fully-let and in demand, has been given approval to be converted to flats.
The largest of these include St Brides’s House, which is now nearing completion, Marqueen House, Ironstone House and Provident House on Burrell Row, and Kelsey House at Thornton’s Corner. As a result, many thousands of square feet of purpose-built office space has been lost and cannot be reclaimed.
However, one piece of good news in this regard is that the application to change the use of the offices at 50 Burnhill Road has just been dismissed at appeal.
Copers Cope Area Residents' Association (CCARA) & West Beckenham Residents' Association (WBRA) 