Issue - meetings

Report DRR15/045

Members were requested to consider Article 4 Directions in relation to three areas of Bromley Town Centre on the basis that it was expedient to do so to avoid harmful impacts upon the local economy. 

The effect of the Directions would be that a change of use from Office (Use Class B1(a) to Residential (Use Class C3) would require planning permission removing the ‘permitted development rights’ under Schedule 2 of the GPDO 2015.

As Ward Member for Bromley Town Centre, the Chairman reported that she and her Ward colleagues supported the making of the Article 4 Directions as a large amount of office use had already been lost to Bromley Town.

Whilst Councillor Bennett JP did not specifically disagree with the making of Article 4 Directions, he did recognise that the world was changing and in cases where offices had remained vacant for some considerable length of time, it could make more sense for a change of use to be implemented.

RESOLVED that:-

1)  the confirmation of the Directions on the basis that it was expedient to restrict the change of use from offices to residential in parts of Bromley Town Centre be endorsed;

2)  this matter be referred to the Renewal and Recreation PDS Committee where the Portfolio Holder be recommended to:-

  a)  confirm the Article 4 Direction to remove the Permitted Development of Class J (now O) to come into effect on 1 August 2015 for the Bromley North Area (as shown on the map);

  b)  confirm the Article 4 Direction to remove the Permitted Development of Class J (now O) to come into effect on 1 August 2015 for the London Road Area (as shown on the map); and

  c)  confirm the Article 4 Direction to remove the Permitted Development of Class J (now O) to come into effect on 1 August 2015 for the Bromley South Area (as shown on the map).