Issue - meetings

Report HPR2021/012

Members considered an update on the newly adopted London Plan which formed part of the Bromley Development Plan and would be used to determine planning applications. The report provided details on the policies in the new plan and where relevant, discussed the implications for the Bromley Local Plan.

The Head of Planning Policy and Strategy clarified that the first sentence of paragraph 3.13 which stated that Policy SD1 identified Bromley Town Centre as an Opportunity Area (OA) within the Bakerloo Line Extension growth corridor related more to a presentational issue within the London Plan as Bromley was banded in the wider section of the area; there was no suggestion that the Bakerloo Line Extension would reach Bromley.

In response to a question from Councillor Allen, the Head of Planning Policy and Strategy confirmed that in relation to paragraph 3.21, Policy D3 replaced the previous density matrix with a ‘design-led approach’ that optimised the

capacity of sites, meaning that there was no longer a quantitative metric to assess site capacity. It was difficult to say whether this Policy would lead to more planning application refusals.

In relation to paragraph 3.76 which stated that Policy SI2 required all major development to be net zero carbon, Councillor Allen asked if this included building materials and where they were sourced. The Head of Planning Policy and Strategy explained that carbon reduction calculations would probably not include how materials were sourced. However, for larger referable schemes, the London Plan endorsed the whole life-cycle approach to carbon reduction including unregulated emissions.

Following comments from Councillor Owen, the Head of Planning Policy and Strategy reported that boroughs were encouraged to set their own policies in regard to basement development. There would be scope through a local planning review to give some definition of what type of basement the Council would want the policy to apply to.

In regard to flood risk (para. 3.29), where telecommunications infrastructure was being proposed, if there were issues with flooding or risks to public health, these could be factored into applications.

Councillor Fawthrop suggested that the Local Plan needed to be updated to incorporate the London Plan and to reflect whatever had been affected by the London Plan. He asked what preparations had already been done in anticipation of this. The Head of Planning Policy and Strategy reported that discussions on updating the Local Plan had been undertaken but as yet there was no timeframe for this to be completed.

Councillor Stevens stated that the issue of converting properties into HMOs was a matter which needed to be addressed as soon as possible as this did not lead to a satisfactory mix of general housing stock.

RESOLVED that the report be noted.