The Development Control Committee of Bromley Council met on Tuesday 27 May 2025 to discuss the Bromley Local Plan Review Direction of Travel consultation. The committee resolved to recommend that the Council's Executive approve the draft document for public consultation and also agreed that Bromley Council should set its own annual target for housing application approvals.

Bromley Local Plan Review Direction of Travel Consultation

The committee extensively reviewed the draft Bromley Local Plan Review Direction of Travel (Regulation 18) consultation document, which outlines the proposed policy direction for the borough's future development. This document is a crucial step in updating the adopted Bromley Local Plan from 2019, taking into account changes in national and regional planning policy, including the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) and the London Plan.

Key areas of discussion included:

• Vision, Objectives, and Spatial Strategy: Members discussed the proposed vision for Bromley to be a fantastic place to live and work, with a focus on accessibility, inclusiveness, and delivering an appropriate supply of homes. Concerns were raised about the protection of community facilities, particularly in light of the Operational Property Review, and the potential for development on brownfield sites, including discussions around the definition and identification of grey belt land. The importance of incorporating up-to-date flood risk information into the evidence base was also highlighted.
• Housing: The committee debated the preferred policy direction for housing, with a particular focus on setting robust criteria for the conversion of existing residential units, backland sites, and garden land. There was a strong emphasis on preserving the borough's predominant character of two-storey detached and semi-detached family housing and protecting bungalows from conversion, although specific policy protections for bungalows were noted as difficult to implement. The engagement of housing associations in the consultation process was requested, and the need to address traveller accommodation through site allocation was discussed. A significant decision was made to request that the Council's Executive agree that Bromley Council sets its own annual target for housing application approvals, based on previous years' decisions, to ensure deliverable targets.
• Design and Heritage: Members noted the importance of providing green infrastructure and amenity space in new developments, with a discussion on ensuring the delivery of child play space. The committee considered the design of shopfronts in Conservation Areas and the need for high-quality design standards for both individual developments and overall local aesthetics. Concerns were raised about the comprehensiveness of new-style Conservation Area Appraisal and Management Plan documents compared to existing Supplementary Planning Documents (SPDs).
• Employment: The committee discussed the proposed removal of the London Biggin Hill Airport SOLDC designation, with clarification that the airport would remain a strategic employment location. The need to protect employment floorspace in light of trends towards home and flexible working was acknowledged, and the intention to seek provision of flexibly configured office space was confirmed. The needs of emerging sectors and improvements to Bromley South station and its public realm were also raised as important economic considerations.
• Retail and Leisure: The discussion focused on policies to encourage a more concentrated retail offer within town centres and the use of meanwhile uses for vacant retail units. The accommodation of delivery drivers and toilet facilities in town centres was queried. The committee also discussed the impact of the experience economy on retail space and the protection of public houses where overconcentration could be harmful to local amenity.
• Sustainability and Waste: No specific comments were made by the committee on this section.
• Green Infrastructure, Open Space and Biodiversity: Members discussed the wording around very special circumstances for Green Belt development, acknowledging that this was governed by national policy but subject to detailed examination. The inclusion of Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) alongside Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation was requested.
• Social and Strategic Infrastructure: The committee welcomed the chapter, recognising residents' concerns about the pressure of new developments on existing services. Discussions covered how necessary infrastructure improvements would be funded, primarily through the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) or direct developer contributions. The protection of sports, recreation, and playing fields was affirmed, and the need to ensure future burial space was addressed.
• Transport: The issue of pavement quality, particularly for those with accessibility needs, was highlighted as a potential area for policy development, including policies relating to the public realm.

The meeting concluded with the resolution to recommend the approval of the Bromley Local Plan Review Direction of Travel (Regulation 18) draft document for public consultation and to agree that Bromley Council should set its own annual target for housing application approvals.

Councillor Colin Hitchins declared that he was employed by London Biggin Hill Airport. Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Christine Harris, Kate Lymer, and Kevin Kennedy-Brooks. Councillors Michael Tickner and Kira Gabbert attended as substitutes for Councillors Harris and Lymer, respectively.