A "micro community" of Bromley residents living under the threat of having their homes bought and demolished by the council are vowing to defend their close.

Seven years after they bought their property, Davina Misroch and her husband Mark Robinson are still living with the uncertainty of whether Bromley Council will use a compulsory purchase order (CPO) to force them out of their home in Ethelbert Close.

They found out from neighbours about the CPO, adopted under the council's Area Action Plan, just two weeks after they completed the purchase in 2008.

Ms Misroch said they invested all of their savings into renovating their home after they were reportedly assured by the council that there would be no developments for at least 15 years.

The 62-year-old told News Shopper: "Two years on I was appearing before the inspector at a public hearing trying to protect our close from demolition."

Since taking up the fight against the council’s plans to develop Ethelbert Close, known in planning terms as one section of opportunity site G, Ms Misroch said she has seen several young first-time homeowners snap up a property before being told of the looming CPO.

News Shopper:

Friends of community G stand up to the council's redevelopment plans.

The council’s plans to demolish the existing maisonettes and build high-rise tower blocks fell through last year, after the developer’s one-year feasibility study proved unsuccessful.

But campaigners expect the council to start the tendering process again soon in order to find a new development partner.

Ms Misroch described Ethelbert Close as a "micro-community" of more than 100 people, which enables the residents, many of whom are elderly or disabled, easy access to the town centre as well as support from their neighbours.

She said: "People feel like how could they ever win against such a giant as the council who will just ride roughshod over them?

"I think people feel powerless. What I’m trying to do is gather the momentum."

A spokesperson for Bromley Council said: "We have been in dialogue with local residents about the area known as site G and this is continuing, so that they are aware of proposals and the processes that any proposals will involve.

"As part of this ongoing commitment, we will be contacting residents shortly so they are kept up to date with proposals to bring forward development on this opportunity site. "

Using compulsory purchase orders is intended to be a last resort, and any application by the council would have to be approved at an inquiry by the national planning casework unit.

Ms Misroch said that residents who stand to lose their homes would fare better if they can hold out until the very last moment, rather than selling up or relocating early.

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Campaigners also raised concerns over the council's application to the Greater London Authority (GLA) to have Bromley town centre deemed a "housing zone", which will inject city hall funding into accelerating developments like site G.

Described by London's mayor Boris Johnson as a "fresh new approach to housing" , several zones have already been identified in the south east, including Plumstead, Abbey Wood and south Thamesmead.

If approved the application, which will be considered by the GLA in the coming weeks, would make Bromley town centre the first housing zone in the borough.

A spokesman for Bromley Council said: "The proposed Housing Zone includes the whole of the town centre with identified sites within the town known as Site A (Bromley North Station) and Site G (West of the High Street) in the Area Action Plan."