Issue - meetings

Report DRR18/002

The New Draft London Plan was released for public consultation in early December 2017.  When adopted, the new Plan would replace the current London Plan (2016) and, as part of Bromley’s Development Plan, would be used in decision making on planning applications along with the UDP/Local Plan and Bromley Town Centre Area Action Plan. 

Members were requested to consider the key aspects of the Consultation Draft, together with officers’ comments (attached as Appendix 1).  Bromley’s response, based on these comments, would be prepared for Executive approval on 7 February and submitted before the deadline of Friday 2 March. 

The Chairman highlighted key elements of the document namely the suggested increase in housing supply, removal of the minimum parking standards, the increase in affordable housing (by possibly 50% in some cases) and the potential removal of the Docklands Light Railway potential for Bromley.

Councillor Michael noted the Mayor's proposal to remove all mention of building on garden land and considered that as a Borough, this was something which should be guarded against.  As far as she was aware, this was still a part of the National Planning Policy and as such suggested the Council request that reference to building on garden land be reinstated.  The Chief Planner confirmed that garden land was excluded from the definition of previously developed land as a national matter.  Were this eventually to become a London Plan policy, in most cases more weight would be given to the London Plan than the one at national level.  This had been acknowledged as a problem in the report currently before Members.

Policy SD7 (paragraph 5, page 44 of the report), referred to Petts Wood and West Wickham being given "medium" potential for residential growth.  Councillor Fawthrop queried how this had been determined within the draft London Plan as there was in fact, no potential at all for residential growth in the Petts Wood Area of Special Residential Character.  Even on the Petts Wood west side there was little or no scope for growth.  The Council's response should therefore be robust in pointing out that Petts Wood was an Area of Special Residential Character which was not suitable for residential development.  Officers agreed to draft some wording and consult with Councillor Fawthrop on this matter.

In regard to Town Centres and Residential Use (page 43), Councillor Brooks emphasised the need for caution as the majority of the Borough’s town centres operated as Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) and it was essential to ensure development did not abut onto retail areas and reduce footfall as this would result in the provision of smaller shops and in turn lead to less money being put into BIDs which would be seriously detrimental to the Borough's high streets.  In this regard, a more robust policy was required.

Councillor Joel raised concerns with the proposed new housing provision target of 1,424 dwellings per annum. Whilst the erection of high rise blocks were being encouraged, he questioned where the majority of the required units  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51