Bexley housing block proposed without any affordable homes

A new block consisting of 20 apartments and an expanded chemist won’t include any affordable housing, new documents lodged with Bexley Council confirm.

Mistvale Limited earlier this month submitted plans to build a part-four, part-five storey block at 175 Bellegrove Road in Welling.

The plan would require the demolition of a seven-day pharmacy currently operating at the site, which would subsequently return in a larger business space built on the ground floor of the development.

The staggered towers above it would include 11 one-bedroom and nine two-bed units, in an L-shaped building which would stretch behind the neighbouring petrol station,  according to planning documents.

Developers behind the plans say the block would provide much-needed high-quality housing in the borough as well as providing a new landmark at the western entrance of Welling’s town centre.

However, a bone of contention with Bexley Council will revolve around the complete absence of affordable housing.

Local policy states that any developer building more than 10 homes must include 35 per cent affordable housing.

However, developers assert that including any subsidised housing in the plans would make the scheme non-viable.

Given the potentially controversial absence of that housing, the proposal could be called in for decision at a future meeting of the planning committee, rather than being decided solely by officers.