Minutes:
Ben Johnson, LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy, provided an update in relation to planning policy.
Members were informed that the ‘Call for Sites’ consultation exercise had closed in November 2021. This was the first stage of the Local Plan review, which would look at any potential sites for economic development or any other uses. The team were currently assessing the responses received and looking towards the next stages of the Local Plan process which would be undertaken later in the year.
Gary Hillman, N. Hillman & Sons, enquired as to the number of sites put forward following the consultation and what the Council’s housing target was. The LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy highlighted that the number of residential units to be build was dependent on the length of the period covered by the Local Plan, but the current housing target was 774 units per year. With regards to the number of sites put forward, this was what the team were currently working through, so it was not possible to give a definitive answer. However it was noted that lots of responses had been received and the consultation appeared to have been more successful than some similar exercises previously undertaken.
In response to a question from Bruce Walker, Lansdown Asset Management, the LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy advised that as the analysis of the sites put forward had not been completed, it was not possible to provide a breakdown of the percentage that were currently greenfield and greenbelt sites. It was noted that the team would be working on the hierarchy and the national policy which looked to prioritise the development of brownfield and well-located sites. As they were at the early stages of the process, it was not possible to rule anything in, or out – if there were lots of urban sites that met the requirements there would not be a need to look at greenbelt sites, but they were not yet in a position to make those determinations. Mr Walker considered that there needed to be an emphasis on the provision of social housing.
In response to a question from the Vice-Chairman, the LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy advised that the overall Local Plan review was a lengthy process, and it was anticipated that final adoption would take place towards the end of 2024. The aim was to launch an ‘Issues and Options’ consultation before the end of the year. In response to a further question, the LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy said that if the sites proposed as part of the ‘Call for Sites’ consultation were practical propositions the team would initiate follow-up conversations. There would be further rounds of consultations which would allow people to respond, clarifying previous responses and/or put forward new justifications if sites were not taken forward.
Members were advised that a Supplementary Planning Document (SPD) had been prepared for Orpington town centre, which provided guidance to help the implementation of planning policies. A report would be presented to the Development Control Committee that evening, and the Council’s Executive – if approved, the SPD consultation would be launched in early March 2022. In response to a question from Lee Thomas, Fairlight Group, the LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy said that a SPD for Bromley town centre was actively being prepared and was expected to go out to consultation in the spring.
The LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy informed Members that a report related to Article 4 Directions would also be considered by the Council’s Development Control Committee and Executive, which proposed the withdrawing of permitted development (PD) rights which allowed the demolition of existing office buildings to provide new residential buildings. If the Article 4 Directions were approved, they would come into force from May 2022.
Russell Clarke, Sundridge Investments Limited enquired if there was a policy that protected residential units from being turned into offices. The LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy advised that there were policies within both the London Plan and Local Plan that resisted the loss of residential units. In response to a further question from Mr Clarke, the LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy said that the issues considered as part of the Article 4 Direction were limited. The report regarding the Article 4 Directions recognised that housing supply could be affected – however it did not preclude residential leases coming forward on a site, but a planning application would be required to do so. Mr Clarke considered that the policies contradicted each other and, as an applicant, were a burden. The LBB Head of Planning Policy and Strategy highlighted that the planning policies in the London Plan and Local Plan were borne out of years of preparation, consultation and engagement – they were in place to deliver benefits to residents and employers in the borough and were applied appropriately to each application. It was noted that objections to an application could be received for a number of reasons, but it was the quality of objections, and not the quantity, that would be considered when determining the outcome.
Lee Thomas, Fairlight Group, said that Article 4 Directions ensured that Bromley town centre had a great mix of residential and commercial (shops, offices and industrial) units, and it should not become purely residential. Mr Thomas considered that the Article 4 Direction was a “soft touch” approach to ensure that everyone benefitted in the long-term, and that there would not be one policy that fitted all. There was a need to keep Bromley town centre as a job creation hub and he was in favour of the Article 4 Directions, if they were used properly.
The Chairman said that he was keen to see first class offices retained in Bromley, and new offices built. It was suggested that areas, such as Elmfield Road, should be protected as prime office locations.
RESOLVED that the Planning Policy update be noted.