Agenda item

PERMISSION (CONDITIONS DELEGATED AUTHORITY)

Description of application – Demolition of a former stable block, refurbishment and conversion of a statutory Grade II listed building at No.173 to 177 High Street (known as former Royal Bell Hotel) and erection of a 9 storey building plus basement to provide a 50 bed hotel with a gym, swimming pool and a retail unit.

Oral representations in support of the application were received.  Oral representations from Ward Member, Councillors Will Harmer, Councillors Russell Mellor and Peter Morgan, as Portfolio Holder for Regeneration, in support of the application were received at the meeting. 

Councillor Harmer also spoke on behalf of his fellow Ward Member, Councillor Nicky Dykes.  He referred to the Grade II Listed Building’s long history and the site had been vacant for many years and in a prime location.  He said this was an exceptional application and one hundred and twenty local residents had written to support the proposed development.  Bromley Town centre lacked this type of venue which would be unique and he did not want to see the building fall back into disrepair. Councillor Harmer suggested that if permission were granted then a condition should be imposed to ensure both parts of the proposed development be opened at the same time.

Councillor Morgan’ s view was that this was the last opportunity to refurbish the Listed Building and it would improve the image of the town centre.

Councillor Mellor had been involved in the regeneration of the building over many years and supported the proposed application.

Comments from Councillor Michael Rutherford both as Ward Member and Chairman of Renewal, Recreation and Housing Policy Development Scrutiny Committee, in support of the application were reported and circulated to Members.

A letter dated 10 December 2018 from Bob Neill MP in support of the application had been received and circulated to Members.

It was reported that a late submission with photographs from the applicant had been received and circulated to Members and that Highways Division had no objections to the application.

The Chairman and Councillor Terry supported the application that would benefit the town at a time when it faced many challenges.

Councillor Michael had visited the site twice in the last six months and reported that works to the restoration had commenced and she supported the application.

Councillor William Huntington-Thresher supported the application and suggested a condition be imposed that the rear building should not be occupied until the Grade II Listed Building had been restored.

Councillors Tony Owen and Keith Onslow both supported the application that would generate employment, had good transport links and would bring people into the town.

MEMBERS CONSIDERED THAT THE POSITIVE IMPACTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT ON THE TOWN CENTRE, THE CONTRIBUTIONS IT WOULD MAKE TO THE REGENERATION OF THE TOWN CENTRE AND THE BENEFITS FOR RESTORING THE STATUTORY LISTED BUILDING WOULD OUTWEIGH THE HARM IDENTIFIED WITHIN THE CHIEF PLANNER’S REPORT. 

Members having considered the report, objections and representations, RESOLVED that PERMISSION be GRANTED AGAINST OFFICERS’ RECOMMENDATIONS, SUBJECT TO THE PRIOR COMPLETION OF A LEGAL AGREEMENT.  MEMBERS FURTHER AUTHORISED OFFICERS TO DETERMINE THE CONDITIONS AND INFORMATIVES, TO BE AGREED WITH THE CHAIRMAN, UNDER THE CHIEF PLANNER’S DELEGATED AUTHORITY PRIOR TO THE DECISION BEING RELEASED.