A block of flats in Sidcup is to be demolished to make way for over 40 new homes - despite concerns over the number of affordable homes.

Developer Shanly Homes has been given the go-ahead to demolish Oceanic House in Sidcup Hill and build 42 one and two-bedroom flats.

The new six-storey building will include a courtyard and car parking spaces, but no affordable housing has been proposed.

Councillors approved the scheme at a planning committee on November 8.

Sidcup councillor June Slaughter had opposed the new build, saying the height and bulk of the proposed block is still too great.

Speaking at the meeting, Cllr Slaughter said: “This is a site which has been vacant and needs to be developed but not in the way proposed.

“I’m frankly amazed there is so little concerned about the impact on traffic on Cross Street. Turning to the height of the building, remember the site is on the highest point of Sidcup. It is six floors and it will dwarf the flats in the Rectory Business Centre.

“The number of parking spaces is woefully inadequate. Sidcup residents know how difficult it is to get a GP appointment, yet we keep approving more flats without any increase in health provision.”

The ward councillor added there was a lack of amenity space, stating “you won’t get to know your neighbours on your balcony – amenity space should be communal as well.”

A similar scheme has been refused before, but the developer has since reduced the number of homes by 10 and introduced new access sites for vehicles from Cross Road.

Independent assessors said it is “not viable” for the scheme to include affordable housing, but the developer has proposed six shared ownership units instead.

Erith councillor Nicola Taylor took issue with the number of affordable homes.

She said: “I have concerns – the first being affordable housing. I note that that there are conditions for an early and late viability test but that doesn’t go far enough.

“I find it hard to believe that a development this size cannot be viable enough to produce more affordable housing than six intermediate use units at shared ownership. It also looks like quite an imposing building.”

The scheme was approved despite neighbours’ concerns about parking and “over-development and overcrowding”.

Planning officer for Shanly, Mark Hendy, said at the meeting: “This proposal offers the proposal to regenerate and enhance an underused site for Sidcup. It will provide much needed homes.”