Council approves Sidcup housing development – with no ‘affordable’ homes

By Lachlan Leeming, Local Democracy Reporter

A new development including 26 apartments and a 24-hour gym has been approved for Sidcup.

However, the proposal for the former Lamorbey Swimming Centre doesn’t include any affordable housing – with developers Montreaux Ltd to instead cough up £250,000 to the council.

Despite reservations over the complete lack of affordable housing, councillors on Bexley’s planning committee welcomed a development at the formerly abandoned site.

“It’s a pleasure to see something go into this site because it’s gone backwards and forwards like a yo-yo,” Cllr Linda Bailey said.

Cllr Brenda Langstead agreed, but raised the matter of the absence of affordable housing.

“This area has been an eyesore for some years but the London plan says there should be affordable housing – housing is the most needed thing in this borough.”

Councillors were assured by officers that the £250k payment would be ringfenced to be used specifically in providing affordable housing elsewhere in the borough.

Cllr June Slaughter raised parking as a potential issue.

“I’m delighted to see there is an application for this site which has been empty for many years,” she said.

“By and large I’m relatively happy with the application as a whole, but I do have some concerns.”

She said that nine parking spaces for 26 flats could mean residents could take up important public car parks nearby.

In addition, the 24-hour nature of the gym meant that users were predicted to visit particularly at off-peak times.

It means plans for the part four-storey, part five-storey site will go ahead, with councillors giving the development their seal of approval.

Pictured is an artist’s impression of what the development will look like