Two planning applications were recently submitted to the Orpington council. On 1st December, these applications were approved. However, the responses to these applications are mixed.
The first application was for Nos. 208-212 High Street, Orpington; the planning for 40 housing units with office floorspace and commercial retail was approved. To make way for this development, the existing vacant building, opposite The Walnuts Shopping Centre, will be demolished. The new building will be five stories high, and will contain a mixture of one, two and three bed units. It will have 94 cycle parking spaces, and two disabled parking spaces.
The other planning application was to develop Nos. 32-36 Homefield Rise, Orpington; the planning was for 17 new apartments, and the demolition of Nos. 34-36 to be replaced by three storey, part four storey development with a mix of one and two bed units. 35% of the units will be affordable, in accordance with the council’s planning policy.
The Chairman of Development Control Committee, Councillor Alexa Michael, said about the plans: "they are well designed and will provide much-needed housing for Bromley borough residents … will contribute to the regeneration of Orpington Town Centre … development which contributes greatly to the local area."
However, a large number of local residents do not support the recent approval. An attempt to prevent the redevelopment received 1000 signatures on change.org. The reasoning behind this was that the opinions of the local people were not being considered by the official Areli consultation (who are responsible for the plan’s submission) or by the local council. Over 90% of these signers were over the age of 30. the Areli team now display some of their plans in south-east schools to increase the number of young people partaking in surveys. As a result of this, the younger generation has been seen to be more accepting of the many changes on the High Street.
sources
Change.org
Bromley council
