Bromley’s Conservative-controlled council has granted planning permission to John Lewis for the “Waitrose Tower” which, at 24 storeys, is much taller than any development given the green light in any Croydon district centre.
Waitrose Towers: Bromley Council has granted permission for this massive, brownfield development
The £500million project will take until 2029 to complete, and will deliver 353 homes for rent above the site of the existing Waitrose store at Masons Hill, close to Bromley South railway station.
So handy for the commute into London as well as for the shops…
John Lewis, in partnership with Abrdn, will build three towers, of 10, 19 and 24 floors.
But only 10% of the new flats will be “affordable” rental, well below the one-third target for new developments laid down by the Mayor of London and local planning rules. This was at the request of the developers, who claimed that the project would not be commercial viable otherwise.
It is the first time that the John Lewis Partnership department store company has gone into residential housing development, as it seeks to diversify away from its traditional shops and retail business. “This scheme will help John Lewis’s business bottom line, but it will do little to solve the housing crisis in London, where people are crying out for truly affordable homes,” according to one of those who opposed the scheme.
Living over the shop: the existing Waitrose store in Bromley will also get a facelift in the development
The chair of the local planning committee, Councillor Alexa Michael, said: “This development will make an essential contribution of much-needed housing in Bromley, while also providing a significant boost to the local economy.
“While finely balanced with many factors to consider, the proposal represents a clear net benefit to the borough and enhances local housing supply, which optimises land use on this highly-accessible brownfield site at the edge of Bromley’s town centre.”
The planning committee granted permission despite considerable opposition from Bromley residents.
One residents’ group raised objections that the cluster of towers would be “overbearing” and “damaging to the local environment and amenity of nearby residents”.
Given the strong opposition to residential tower developments in Croydon, the romley scheme may create a precedent for other large-scale, “brownfield” developments in the area.
The “energy efficient” flats in the 24-storey Bromley development would include a mix of one- to three-bedroom homes. The existing Waitrose will be renovated.
John Lewis had said last year that 35% of homes in the Bromley development would be affordable – with rents set at no more than 80% of market value, in line with London planning targets. But now barely 30 of the flats will be affordable, something described by opposition councillors as “frankly derisory”.
John Lewis has said it expected Council Tax and “local spend” (perhaps in their Waitrose store?) to increase by £70million in the development’s first decade.
The planning green light comes as Bromley Council has placed the nearby Churchill Theatre up for sale, potentially for redevelopment as housing.
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ROTTEN BOROUGH AWARDS: In January 2024, Croydon was named among the country’s rottenest boroughs for a SEVENTH successive year in the annual round-up of civic cock-ups in Private Eye magazine
I’m conflicted about this. Is it good news? Is it the future of housing? Is it proof that intelligent, professional private sector provision can help ease our affordable housing crisis? It sound so very NOT Croydon
It proves that private developers will do less than nothing to solve the housing crisis.
Croydon, south London and the nation needs tens of thousands of homes available at social rent levels – what used to be council homes, or Guinness, or Peabody. Not small two-bed “apartments” for £350,000.