Residents fear new housing development will leave them in ‘almost perpetual’ darkness

By Joe Coughlan, Local Democracy Reporter

Plans for new homes in blocks up to seven storeys high have been hit by more than 50 complaints, with residents calling the plans “intimidating and overpowering”.

Riverside Regeneration and Countryside Partnerships have sent plans to Bromley council for 275 new homes in Calverley Close, Beckenham, with tower blocks ranging between three and seven storeys tall.

Out of the 275 new homes, 65 per cent are planned to be “affordable”. The new development will include nine blocks and 20 townhouses, and involves knocking down the five existing blocks on the site, with 179 affordable homes.

Plans for the project say the existing estate is “ageing, overcrowded” and “no longer fit for purpose”.

Anthony Shallice, a neighbour to the site, said the height of the new buildings would put residents in “almost perpetual” darkness.

He said: “I know this was raised by concerned residents and was hand-waved and dismissed by sneering members of the development team. Utterly unacceptable.”

Council documents said that letters notifying neighbours of the plans were sent to 858 addresses surrounding the site last August.

This came alongside a notice on the site and an initial three-week consultation, followed by another round of letters and two weeks of consultation last month.

Residents have also voiced concerns over how long it will take to build the new homes, with council documents saying the construction will last more than 10 years. One resident called the timeframe “ludicrous”.

Mr Shallice said: “To put in place such a timescale, a 10th of a century, without accounting for the impact on residents, is staggering and cannot be allowed. The noise, the pollution, the inconvenience would be astronomical and has not been considered at all.”

A spokesman for Countryside Partnerships and Riverside said: “Our initial proposals were subject to a design review with an independent panel of experts and following a public consultation in 2021, we reduced the number of new private homes and the building heights by up to two storeys.

“We have worked together with residents, the council and the local community to take as many views as possible into account and our proposed scheme includes enhanced open spaces, new cycle parking provision and car parking spaces with active charging points.”

“The proposals include 65 per cent affordable homes which will address overcrowding for many of the estate’s existing households, and 96 additional homes to meet the needs of the local area.”

A Bromley council spokeswoman said: “An application has been received for a redevelopment comprising of 275 residential homes on Calverley Close in Beckenham.

“The application will be determined at Development Control Committee, with the published committee report setting out the officer recommendation for this decision.”

The decision on the 275 new homes will be decided at a Bromley council meeting tomorrow.

Pictured top: Plans for the new development in Calverley Close, Beckenham (Picture: Riverside Regeneration Limited and Countryside)