Delivering affordable homes for Bromley

Strong progress is being made against Bromley Council’s strategy of delivering affordable housing developments on manageable sites across the borough. A 35-home development in Beckenham is the latest to receive planning approval in the Bromley Homes for Bromley People programme, with works set to commence next year.

Bromley like all local authorities continues to grapple with the rising costs in providing housing for homeless families, with the cost of temporary accommodation per household having almost doubled in the last two years.

Given these pressures, part of the Council’s strategy to secure the necessary housing and reduce the reliance on temporary accommodation involves exploring every option to build housing across council land. The latest development in Beckenham makes use of an underused car park for the nearby leisure centre, which once completed will see a range of one-, two- and three-bedroom homes become available for local residents who need them. The new housing will be set back from the main road and include flexible workspace on the ground floor, accessible parking with electric car charging, cycle parking and a children’s play area.

Councillor Yvonne Bear, Executive Councillor for Renewal, Recreation and Housing, said: “We are continuing with our multi-million-pound investment to deliver more Bromley homes for Bromley people at sites across the borough, with obvious benefits for residents and Council taxpayers. The rising cost of temporary accommodation is causing substantial pressures for the Council, as we provide housing for the homeless families who need it. This Beckenham development is one part of our wider strategy to face up to this considerable challenge, which will deliver substantial savings for the Council and a high standard of accommodation for our residents".

The Beckenham development is far from the only affordable housing being delivered by Bromley, with further 25 new homes in West Wickham and 35 homes in Orpington nearing completion and works set to begin soon on a development for 75 homes at Bromley North, which also makes use of an underused council car park. Early engagement events have also been held to redevelop a site in St Paul’s Cray for housing, as existing accommodation continues to be reviewed to ensure it is best fit for the council’s needs, with redevelopment also helping to improve the standard of accommodation available.