A new affordable housing block in Beckenham has been given the green light by Bromley Council, with each of the 35 flats being available for social rent.
The scheme’s approval follows news earlier this week that the number of families in temporary accommodation in the borough is nearing 2,000.
The new development will be constructed on a car park beside the Spa at Beckenham leisure centre.
The plans will see the existing building, Lewis House, and three temporary office spaces on the Beckenham Road site being knocked down. It will also include a work space on the ground floor beneath the flats and a community garden alongside a children’s play space.
A report from earlier this week said there were 1,930 households in temporary accommodation in Bromley at the end of September. Within this figure, 1,562 were said to be in hotels or similar nightly paid placements.
Alicia Egan, Head of Regeneration for the council, said at a meeting on December 12 that temporary accommodation was one of the authority’s largest revenue pressures. The council officer also confirmed that the new homes would be prioritised for families on Bromley Council’s own housing waiting list.
The application received 92 objections from residents. Local Garnet Frost criticised the scheme at the meeting after Bromley Experts by Experience, a local charity supporting disabled individuals, was asked to leave Lewis House to allow the scheme to proceed.
Mr Frost said: “The service for disabled people had been using Lewis House from 1987 all the way up to Christmas last year when they were ruthlessly evicted. They weren’t consulted. They have been treated as if they don’t exist.”
Joanne Munn, former CEO of the charity, previously told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the charity was now based on North Street in Bromley town centre. She claimed that the council had formerly advised the charity there were no plans to build on the Lewis House site.
A Bromley Council spokesperson responded at the time to say no promise had ever been made that the land was not a suitable site for social housing They added that they understood the charity’s disappointment but that the council planned to run a much improved and upgraded service for local disabled people.
Labour Councillor Josh King, ward councillor for Clock House, said at the meeting last night that the history of the site and the nature of the previous tenants were not planning objections. Council documents said Lewis House is currently being used as a temporary library while Beckenham Library is being refurbished.
Councillors at the meeting generally felt there was enough local parking available to mitigate the 40 spaces that would be lost through the scheme. However, Conservative Councillor Simon Fawthrop cited his discontent with the lack of parking spaces planned for the new development, aside from the five spots reserved for Blue Badge holders. All other members in attendance voted in approval of the project.
Conservative Councillor Alexa Michael said: “I think this is a good application. It makes sufficient use of the available space. It’s not too tall, it’s not too bulky. We very badly need social housing for rent so this will help to meet the demand in the borough for people who need it.”
