Bromley is set to be a key battleground in next month’s local elections as Reform aims to take control of a London borough for the first time.

Bromley Council has been a Conservative stronghold for over 20 years and the Tories currently hold 33 seats and the majority on the South East London council.

In its latest poll, YouGov is predicting a knife edge result between the Tories and Reform as to who will emerge with the most seats. The election data analysts have Reform just a step ahead with 24 points to the Conservatives’ 23 when it comes to voting intentions.

All parties have announced their plans for Bromley if they seize power or gain seats on May 7. Developing on the Green Belt is a hot button issue in the borough, especially due to recent plans to build 2,200 homes on Bromley Common and 650 homes in Biggin Hill.

Parties have committed to not building on Bromley’s green spaces, or at least discourage development there. Transport is also a key topic, with the Conservatives committing to not introducing Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) or blanket 20 mph zones.

Reform has put forward a proposal to introduce free parking in main shopping centres and parades across Bromley to help businesses and stimulate the local economy.

Bromley’s current opposition Labour group also has ambitious plans for the borough, including raising its affordable housing target to 50 per cent and delivering 300 new council homes by 2028.

The Liberal Democrats have five council seats and are hoping to maintain their control of Beckenham and Bromley Town, while the Greens are hoping to have their first councillor elected in Bromley. Independent party Chislehurst Matters is also standing again in the suburb to the east of the borough.

Read summaries of all the key Bromley party manifestos below.

Conservative

The Tories are hoping to be ‘Keeping Bromley on the right path’ with their manifesto as they aim to retain control of Bromley Council next month. You can read their full manifesto here.

Housing and the environment

Protect Bromley’s Green Belt from inappropriate development
Deliver more housing on brownfield land
Commitment to not building on parks, allotments or other green spaces and seek further funding to enhance these areas
Continue record as London’s best borough for recycling
Continue strict approach to fly-tipping and graffiti

Communities

Complete the rebuilding of West Wickham Leisure Centre, the relocation of Bromley Central Library and the improvements to Waldo Road Recycling Centre
Deliver 150 new SEN school places at satellite classrooms across the borough
Build upon our work to tackle loneliness via an internationally recognised Loneliness Strategy
Deliver a Summer Activities Programme that provides children from vulnerable backgrounds with learning, entertainment, and hot food during the holidays
Resist any future plans for cuts to the Freedom Pass
Work with the Schools Forum of headteachers to ensure the overwhelming majority of Bromley’s schools continue to be rated highly by Ofsted

Transport

Commit to not introducing Low Traffic Neighbourhoods or blanket 20 mph zones across Bromley
Invest £16 million over the next four years to improve the state of Bromley’s roads, while trialling new ‘super asphalt’ to ensure maximum efficiency in repair times
Lobby Sadiq Khan and Transport for London to increase the Local Improvement Project (LIP) funding needed to invest in road safety measures
Continue proactive measures to educate Bromley’s young people about the dangers of the road through the ‘Driven by Consequences’ programme

Finance

Adhere to our first duty as a local authority by presenting a balanced budget, while keeping council tax as low as possible
Continue our programme of transformation savings to make services more efficient and save taxpayer money.
Build more homes to reduce temporary accommodation costs
Lobby central Government to reverse the Fair Funding review and get more funding for Bromley
Ensure continued good management of the borough’s pension fund

Reform UK

Reform does not have individual manifestos for all the London boroughs in which it has candidates standing next month. However, Bromley is a key target for Nigel Farage’s party. Below are some of their plans if they take control in the borough:

Discourage developing on open green spaces, fields and farms while allowing development on ex-commercial sites that are still designated as Green Belt
Get rid of all the net zero aspects of the council’s expenditure
Address council finances to prevent potential future bankruptcy
Put forward a proposal to introduce free parking in main shopping centres and parades across Bromley to help businesses
Communicate with other Reform councils to identify how best to run council services

Labour

Labour is currently the opposition group in Bromley with 11 members and the group aims to grow that opposition with their extensive manifesto come May 7. You can read their full manifesto here.

Finance and council services

Stop selling off public buildings and protect community centres and youth facilities
Consult residents on and adopt an Ethical Investment Policy
Make services digital by default, while retaining strong phone and face-to-face options for people who need them
Introduce a Service Standards Charter with clear response times and published performance data
Livestream all council meetings and keep recordings available online
Make Bromley Council a London Living Wage employer
Provide 100% council tax support for individuals with a terminal illness, or families living with someone who is terminally ill
Set up an Economic Recovery Fund targeted at high street regeneration

Housing and employment

Raise the borough’s affordable housing target to 50 per cent and deliver 300 new council homes by 2028
Focus development on brownfield, ‘grey belt’ and appropriate redevelopment sites and oppose speculative or unaffordable development on the Green Belt
Adopt a new approach in areas where development takes place so residents have a say in how money from developer contributions is used to improve their area
Introduce a tougher series of licensing requirements for HMOs
Create a Bromley Skills and Jobs Partnership to boost employment

Communities

Adopt a new homelessness strategy with the goal of ending rough sleeping in Bromley by 2030
Introduce a Social Value Discount on rent for small charities, community organisations and social enterprises using council owned properties
Expand in-house adult care services and council-owned children’s homes where appropriate
Prioritise older people’s homes in retrofit and repair programmes
Reform SEND services to ensure EHCPs are handed out on time
Explore options for Bromley to be part of the Borough of Sanctuary movement

Environment

Use a dedicated large commercial events levy to repair damage and invest in park facilities, especially play equipment
Give friends’ groups a formal role in scrutinising park management
Expand recycling services to flats above shops
Launch a Clean Air Neighbourhoods programme, focusing on air quality around schools, high streets and busy junctions
Establish a £1m fund which allows residents to invest in local projects to reduce carbon emissions

Transport and crime

Stop the roll-out of paid parking at local shopping parades and review the recent schemes
Trial a limited weekend free parking scheme in selected small shopping parades
Reverse the Conservatives’ policy to get rid of speed bumps already in place where removal is opposed by residents
Work with the Mayor of London and the Met to reduce police abstractions so that neighbourhood officers stay in Bromley
Establish a Community Safety Fund that helps local retailers to put in place practical anti-crime measures

Liberal Democrat

The Lib Dems have five Bromley councillors, a number they hope to increase next month. You can read their full manifesto here.

Transport

Continue to work with residents to identify dangerous crossings, speeding hotspots, rat-runs, and poorly designed junctions, and push for practical, evidence-based improvements
Make the case for a long-term approach to road maintenance, fixing potholes and pavements properly instead of relying on repeated short-term patching
Lobby TfL to cut congestion on main routes, phase traffic lights effectively, improve bus reliability, and reduce pollution
Prioritise investment in Bromley South station to improve capacity, accessibility, and the overall experience

Housing

Support meeting genuine housing need while defending the Green Belt and protecting valued green spaces
Back the right homes in the right locations, including genuinely affordable homes and family housing, so young people and families can stay in Bromley rather than being priced out
New development must be well designed and backed by sufficient infrastructure
Support town centre living to revitalise high streets and reduce pressure on suburban neighbourhoods
Press the council to make better use of existing housing stock, using incentives and enforcement where appropriate to ensure homes are lived in, not left vacant

Parks and community spaces

Oppose the sale of valued community assets
Invest in upkeep of community facilities and parks
Push for meaningful regeneration of Bromley Town Centre—tackling long-term empty units, improving public spaces, supporting local businesses, and bringing more life back to the high street

Policing

Support a Burglary Response Guarantee so that every burglary is properly investigated
Continue to oppose any changes that reduce access to policing services after speaking out against the closure of the 24-hour counter at Bromley Police Station
Encourage more local police presence throughout the borough

Services

Remove barriers facing disabled residents, older people, families, carers, and those who are digitally excluded
Campaign for quicker GP appointments and fair access to NHS dentists
Push for higher standards of customer service, clearer accountability, and greater transparency in how council decisions are made
Continue to hold the administration to account with councillors remaining visible and accessible to residents

Green

The Greens have never held a seat on Bromley Council. Following the party’s surge in popularity ever since Zach Polanski became its leader, the Greens are hoping they can finally gain a foothold in Bromley. Below are the party’s main priorities for the South East London borough:

A Bromley that listens, acts, and works for everyone
A council that listens and delivers
Tackling the cost of living in Bromley
Homes people can actually afford
Safer, cleaner streets
A future our children can look forward to
A greener Bromley
A borough where everyone belongs

Chislehurst Matters

The independent group of three councillors holds all three seats in the Chislehurst ward after being elected four years ago. The trio is running for election again as they promise to continue championing the interests of Chislehurst in Bromley Council. Below are some of the commitments they have made to Chislehurst residents ahead of May 7:

Always put the interests of Chislehurst and its residents first
Hold regular open surgeries and keep residents updated on their progress
Help to protect and enhance Chislehurst, its green spaces, heritage and character
Be fully accountable to Chislehurst residents and ensure greater transparency