Residents slam ‘eyesore’ tower blocks set to be built in town centre
By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter
More than 100 objections have been received from residents of Bromley town centre on plans for a pair of tower blocks up to 14-storeys tall, calling them an “eyesore”.
Bromley council has received an application to build nearly 100 flats in a pair of tower blocks on Ringers Road and Ethelbert Road.
The project, sent by Ringers Road Properties Limited, would see the current buildings on the site being demolished, which includes a restaurant, six flats and a photography studio.
The buildings are planned to be 14 and 12-storeys tall and would bring 94 new flats to the area, 35 per cent of which would be “affordable.”
The plans have received 109 objections from residents online. Concerns were largely raised over the height and design of the project, calling it an “eyesore” and “sterile” in its appearance.
One resident said in their objection: “Bromley is one of the remaining towns in London without an abundance of tower blocks. This ridiculously tall and overbearing development will absolutely ruin the historic charm of the high street.
“Bromley town centre should keep some of its history without being taken over by tower blocks and greedy developers.”
Planning documents from Hollaway Studio, on behalf of Ringers Road Properties, said the scheme was presented to a design review panel in April 2021. They said several changes were made following feedback, including co-working areas in the ground floor of the blocks and a landscaped courtyard.
Other changes to the project include reducing the height of the taller block from 19 storeys to 14. The developers said the design had taken into account the area’s setting and neighbours, with each flat offering “excellent” views.
They added: “Great care has been taken to ensure that a range of flat types and sizes has been provided and that the proposed dwellings suit their location in terms of form, material, size and scale. The proposed dwelling floor areas are well in excess of the GLA Space Standards.”
The plans for the tower blocks will be discussed at a development control meeting for Bromley Council on Thursday.
Pictured top: A CGI of the towers planned for Ringers Road and Ethelbert Road (Picture: Hollaway Studio/Ringers Road Properties)
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