Plans for the tallest tower block in Bromley have been revealed as one councillor has warned they won’t be voting to approve the development.
John Lewis Partnership has revealed plans for a new pair of tower blocks on Masons Hill in Bromley, with the tallest building at 24 storeys tall.
The plans include 350 new flats, a new public space and improvements to the Waitrose shop at the site.
The plans are part of a wider £500m scheme with global investment company abrdn to build 1,000 homes above Waitrose and John Lewis shops in Bromley, West Ealing and Reading.
The John Lewis Partnership plans to build 10,000 homes in the next ten years.
A second round of public consultation on the plans was held this month, following the first round in June 2022.
The plans include two tower blocks to hold the flats, the southern building being 19 storeys and the northern building planned to be 24 storeys tall. Perigon Heights, the current tallest building in Bromley town centre, is 17 storeys tall.
A John Lewis Partnership spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that surrounding buildings in the area, including Perigon Heights, were considered when developing the plans.
They said the heights of the new buildings had been tested through modelling the surrounding local streets and views along Bromley High Street.
Liberal Democrat Councillor Julie Ireland told the Local Democracy Reporting Service that the party liked aspects of the plans, but couldn’t support them based on the height of the tower blocks.
She said: “We welcome the badly needed housing and particularly like that they’re looking for long term rental.
"The response from residents who we’ve asked has been largely the same – at 24 storeys, it’s a massive 7 storeys higher than the tallest building in Bromley (next door’s Perigon Heights) and sets a precedent for more even higher tower blocks.
"We won’t be able to support this development.”
A John Lewis Partnership spokesperson told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “We have given a great deal of thought to the design and the latest consultation is another important step in continuing our conversation with local residents to evolve our plans.
“We believe this is an opportunity to better use this brownfield site to deliver a range of community benefits and facilities in Bromley such as a significantly improved Waitrose, much-needed quality housing, including affordable homes, as well as major investment in improving the public realm.”
A planning application for the new tower blocks is scheduled to be sent to Bromley Council in spring 2023, before being considered by the planning committee in winter.
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