SPD – Guidence Note 11: Tall buildings

Posted on 16 January 2023 by campaignr

In the 2020 consultation on the SPD (supplementary planning document) 86% of responses about building heights rejected more high-rises (defined as over 6 storeys) (see here). New policies in the London Plan enable our council to set limits on the heights of new buildings. This means that Guidence Note 11 is not worded strong enough – for instance, perhaps it could be updated to say that new developments should be no more than 2 or 3 storeys more than the surrounding roads.

Two huge tower blocks are viewed from the air so they look smaller
A contrived aerial view to minimise the extra 12 storeys on these 2 tower blocks proposed on Ringers Road and Ethelbert Road
Rainbow blocks demonstrate the over-sized tower blocks
How the Ethelbert Road proposals will tower over the whole area
row of high rises towering over 3-storey high-street
Adjusted visual of Churchill Quarter towering over the High Street
high rises towering 12 storeys over a low-rise high street
Ringers Road development towering over the high-street
aerial diagram of high street with high-rises marching down the west side
High-rises all down the High Street – In addition to 8 in Churchill Quarter, there’s 10 more, plus another 8 over the station
coloured blocks of high-rises marching over the hill crest
Massed tower blocks proposed on the high street dominating the protected view from Queens Mead

Change the SPD to halt… The Invasion of The Tower Blocks

It is important that this section is worded stongly, as there has been speculative proposals for two or more sites every year that attempt to make money by building inappropriately high buildings. Each one of these is taken to appeal to the Planning Inspectorate (wasting tax-payers money to oppose) which could be avoided by wording this document properly.

Amend Guidance Note 10 to say that, except for the Bromley South area, no taller buildings (defined as over 6 storeys) are acceptable. They should not encroach on any Protected Views or dominate all/part of the Conservation Area.

up-ended car-park style high-rise towering over a low-rise high street
Won on appeal to the Planning Inspectorate (Bristol) – 70 High Street

If the wording is not improved, these proposals will be allowed:

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One Response to SPD – Guidence Note 11: Tall buildings

  1. Pingback: Future Buildings in Bromley Town – How High? Where? – The SPD (Supplementary Planning Document) | Bromley Civic Society

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