A South London council has signalled its intention to reject a planning application for 350 homes on green belt land, describing the proposal as 'completely inappropriate'. Bromley Council issued a resolution to refuse permission on June 5 after the developer, Lands Improvement Holdings, declined to extend the time for consideration.
Proposal Details
The application, submitted in November, sought to build 350 residential units across three agricultural fields east of St Mary Cray Recreation Ground, between Crockenhill Road and Cockmannings Road. The 42-acre site would include 40 one-bedroom apartments, 27 two-bedroom flats, 56 two-bedroom houses, 157 three-bedroom homes, and 70 properties with four or more bedrooms. Half of these homes were designated as affordable. Plans also featured a new green common with a play area and a path connecting to the recreation ground. Additionally, the developer pledged to invest in improvements at St Mary Cray Recreation Ground, potentially funding CCTV, pavilion renovations, or an all-weather cricket pitch.
Local Opposition
The plans have drawn strong opposition from residents, with over 1,000 objections lodged on Bromley Council's planning portal. Most objectors cited the loss of green belt land as their primary concern. The council agreed, stating that the scale of housing on the green belt was inappropriate.
Council's Stance
Cllr Yvonne Bear, Bromley's Executive Councillor for Renewal, Recreation and Housing, said: 'This is a completely inappropriate development on the borough's cherished green belt land, which is why we have issued this resolution to indicate our intention to refuse the application. We will continue to protect Bromley's green belt by fighting unsuitable green belt developments through our planning process.'
Developer's Response
Lands Improvement Holdings expressed disappointment. A spokesperson said: 'The scheme helps to meet growing housing need by delivering family homes, half of which are affordable. The proposals support the Cray Valley Renewal Area, delivering long-term regeneration benefits for the local community, including improvements to St Mary Cray Recreation Ground and provision for a new community facility.'
Next Steps
The refusal resolution has been referred to the Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, and the Secretary of State for Housing, Steve Reed. Both have the power to overrule the council for developments of 150 homes or more to fast-track housing delivery. The Mayor faces pressure to deliver 88,000 homes annually in London, with affordable housing particularly behind target. The Greater London Authority and Ministry of Housing recently lowered the Affordable Homes Programme target for 2021-2026 by over a fifth, but City Hall is still expected to miss it. This case tests how far Sir Sadiq will compromise green belt land to meet targets, especially as the St Mary Cray site borders Sevenoaks countryside, making it unlikely to qualify as 'grey belt'. Bromley Council expects to issue a formal refusal decision in the coming weeks.
