Bromley residents riled by building work which ko’d internet and damaged property

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Service

Bromley residents are fuming after they say mistakes by builders left them without internet for four days and damaged sheds and fences along the road.

A landlord began work to convert a house into six bedrooms. The property in Ridgeway Drive currently has five bedrooms, but will be transformed into a house in multiple occupation (HMO).

The plans have received 46 objections from locals. One neighbour said in council documents: “[The] mess and height of the builders’ debris led to our internet cable being severed by mistake, meaning my partner could not work for four days.”

Another said the construction was “unthoughtful” and was taking place with a “total lack of sympathy” towards neighbours. Residents also said that when construction on the site began, they thought the house was being prepared for a family to live there.

The builders for the site have been called “messy and inconsiderate” and one local said: “Workmen have also damaged my garage as to render it unusable whilst continuing to store builders’ materials on what remains of the roof without my permission.” The neighbour also said that requests to repair their garage have been “ignored”.

Another objection said that foxes have been seen “rummaging around at night” from food rubbish left by builders at the house. Residents said that the builders had also “damaged the footpath” on the road and another neighbour’s “fence”.

It is understood that under development rights, the owner of the house is allowed to change the building into flats without consulting the council. However, given the complaints made about the building work so far, a council meeting will be held to decide if the proposals are suitable. One local said it was “astounding” that such a big change to the building did not need planning permission.

Neighbours said that approving the flats would be an “eyesore” and “slippery slope” as there are no other houses like it currently on the street. One local said the building would be “no better than student accommodation” or a hostel.

The decision on whether the house on Ridgeway Drive can be converted into flats will be decided at a planning meeting for Bromley Council on December 22.

A Bromley Council spokesperson said: “An application has been received in this case for formal confirmation as to whether their development is lawful, which must be determined based on the legislative position at the time the application was submitted.

“The published committee report sets out the officer recommendation for this application and the sole consideration is whether the development is lawful or not. The committee are not able to take into account any planning policies or other impacts with this type of application.”

Pictured top: The house on Ridgeway Drive to be converted into a six-person set of flats. (Pictured: Joe Coughlan)