The Bromley Council Plans Sub-Committee No. 2 met on 24 July 2025, and made decisions on three planning applications. Councillors deferred a decision on the conversion of a High Street building into an aparthotel, permitted the demolition of a rear lean-to and construction of an extension in the Beckenham Town & Copers Cope Conservation Area, and refused permission for the conversion of a house into flats in Mottingham.

Planning Application: 9 Avondale Road, Mottingham

The committee refused an application for the construction of a single-story rear extension, elevational alterations, and the conversion of an enlarged dwelling at 9 Avondale Road, Mottingham into two self-contained residential flats with cycle and refuse storage. Councillor Will Rowlands called in the application, citing the loss of a family home, loss of light, over-development, and the development being out of keeping with the local area.

The committee refused the application for two reasons:

1. The proposal would have a detrimental impact on the character of the area, resulting in the loss of a single family dwelling and an intensity of residential use of the semi-detached dwellings that would not be sympathetic to or consistent with the prevailing pattern of development in Avondale Road, thereby contrary to Policies 9 and 37 of the Bromley Local Plan and Policy D3 of the London Plan.
2. The proposed development would have a detrimental impact on the residential amenities of the adjoining dwelling at No. 11 Avondale Road by reason of the height, depth and siting of the single storey rear extension and the layout of the first floor flat and the intensity of residential use of the site, thereby resulting in unacceptable loss of light, outlook and noise and disturbance, contrary to Policies 9 and 37 of the Bromley Local Plan and Policy D3 of the London Plan.

The planning officer stated that a highways planning survey indicated that the proposal would not cause parking stress. It was noted that a previous application for a house in multiple occupation (HMO) had been refused, but the planning officer believed the current application for flats was acceptable and would not have a detrimental impact on the area. Councillor Peter Dean, Chairman of the Plans Sub-Committee No. 2, stated that any previous planning applications for HMOs were not relevant to the application being considered.

Planning Application: 153-155 High Street SE20

The sub-committee deferred a decision on an application for internal and external alterations to 153-155 High Street SE20, including a partial demolition of the first and second floors to form a lightwell, an extension of the third floor, and a change of use from mixed-use (Use Classes C3¹ & Class E²) to an aparthotel with 20 rooms (Use Class C1³) and alterations to the ground floor retail units, including new shop fronts and an integral ground floor refuse and cycle storage.

A member enquired about how people would book and arrive, and what plans were in place to deal with emergencies and fire safety. Members queried if there would be any physical support available on the site, and noted that the expected level of occupancy had not been defined, and that there was no parking available on the site. Members also queried the position regarding a lift on the first floor, and requested more detail regarding the waste management plan. One member felt that 10% of rooms should be wheelchair accessible, and that the application was not meeting this requirement.

Councillor Peter Dean suggested that conditions could be applied regarding the running of the business, and that the application should be deferred so that more details regarding management controls could be provided.

The committee resolved to defer the application to seek the submission of a detailed Operation and Management Plan setting out the arrangements for the operation of the site with regards to the management of guest bookings, changeovers, servicing and concierge services, complaints and assistance procedures, refuse storage and collection, as well as with regards to the accessibility of the property to wheelchair users.

Planning Application: 37 Limes Road Beckenham

The committee permitted an application to demolish the existing rear lean-to and construct a single-storey side/rear extension, and replace existing windows with timber heritage-style sash windows at 37 Limes Road, Beckenham, which is in the Beckenham Town & Copers Cope Conservation Area.

Other Matters

Apologies for absence were received from councillors Simon Fawthrop and Julie Ireland. Councillors Graeme Casey and Councillor Will Rowlands attended as substitutes.

The minutes of the meeting held on 29 May 2025 were agreed as a correct record.

There were no declarations of interest.