Plans Approved for First John Lewis Homes in Bromley

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29 July 2024

The John Lewis Partnership has been approved to transform a Waitrose site in Bromley into 353 new homes.

The proposed development consists of 353 new homes for rent, and a refurbished and extended Waitrose store at the site, where over 70 per cent of existing customer parking will be retained. The site will feature a mix of one, two and three-bedroom homes and will be developed, owned and managed by the John Lewis Partnership (JLP).

"Small Number of Affordable Units"

The London Borough of Bromley says that it received 147 letters of support from local residents, however, the Liberal Democrat councillors for Bromley Town oppose the development due to the “small number of affordable units.”

According to the Bromley Liberal Democrats website, “the 10 per cent of affordable units (or 20 per cent if they secure additional funding) will not meet the requirements of the London Plan or the Bromley Local Plan’s affordable housing targets.” Bromley’s Local Plan (2019) requires 35 per cent affordable housing.

John Lewis says that local people will be prioritised for the new build to rent homes and that the letters of support for the project “exceed those who opposed the proposal”.

The Liberal Democrat councillors also oppose the scheme on the grounds of height, claiming that the development may “set a precedent” for other tall towers:

“At 24 storeys, the development is too high. The tallest block will be a full 7 storeys taller than Perigon Heights (the green block next door). The only other tall building in the area is St Marks Square - whose highest point is 19 storeys. The Waitrose development will be a third higher.“

Councillor Alexa Michael, Chair of Development Control Committee, countered: “This development will make an essential contribution of much-needed housing in Bromley, while also providing a significant boost to the local economy.

"While finely balanced with many factors to consider, the proposal represents a clear net benefit to the borough and enhances local housing supply, which optimises land use on this highly-accessible brownfield site at the edge of Bromley’s town centre.”

Work is expected to begin in 2025.

Picture: a CGI showing the proposed refurbished Waitrose store with residential apartments above. At the front of the building, there are seating areas amongst green space. Image Credit: Assael Architecture

Article written by Ella Tansley | Published 29 July 2024

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