Issue - meetings

Report HPR2020/040

Members considered whether 15 non-immediate Article 4 Directions should be made to withdraw permitted development rights (PDRs) which allowed blocks of flats to be extended upwards by up to two storeys to provide new residential units. The Directions would apply to the 13 Areas of Special Residential Character shown in the Bromley Local Plan (January 2019) and to two discrete areas which fell within local views. The Directions would come into force 12 months from the date the Directions were made, subject to confirmation by the Renewal, Recreation and Housing Portfolio Holder.

Councillor Michael, Chairman of the Development Control Committee (DCC), confirmed that this report had been considered at the DCC meeting held on 19 November 2020.  At that meeting, Members recommended one immediate Direction be put in place to remove PD rights in the Petts Wood ASRC for single dwelling houses and one non-immediate Direction for flats in the ASRC.  As Conservation Areas were automatically protected from upward extensions but ASRCs were not, it was only right, that the proposed Article 4 Directions be made.

The Head of Planning Policy and Strategy confirmed that while the Secretary of State could cancel a Direction at any point, this was very rarely done. However, the Government currently envisaged a large housing supply coming forward through PD rights.

The Chairman referred to the tall buildings located towards the top of Ravensbourne Valley which, if extended, would interfere with the skyline. He moved (and Members agreed) that in order to protect the current view, a report be submitted to the next meeting of the DCC recommending that an Article 4 Direction for that particular area of Ravensbourne Valley be included on the list of Article 4 Directions.

RESOLVED that a report be submitted to the next meeting of the DCC recommending that an Article 4 Direction for the top end of Ravensbourne Valley be included on the list of Article 4 Directions.

It was further RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to authorise the making of:-

1)  One immediate Article 4 Direction to remove Part 1, Class AA PD rights in the Petts Wood ASRC;

2)  One non-immediate Article 4 Direction to remove Part 20, Class A; Class AA; Part 20, Class AB; Part 20, Class AC; and Part 20, Class AD PD rights in the Petts Wood ASRC; and

3)  14 non-immediate Article Directions to remove the following PD rights in all ASRCs (except Petts Wood) and the two local views specified in paragraphs 3.31 and 3.32 of the report:-

·  Part 1, Class AA

·  Part 20, Class A

·  Part 20, Class AA

·  Part 20, Class AB

·  Part 20, Class AC

·  Part 20, Class AD