Bromley Council’s planning team have recommended that Hadley’s plans to build an enormous tower block in Penge Town Centre be approved. In their recommendation to the DCC, they acknowledge that the plans breach multiple planning guidelines, but they say that the need for housing overrides all other considerations, including the wishes of local people and the damage to the conservation area and Penge’s townscape – not to mention that the entire high street will be plunged into permanent darkness.
They don’t even seem to care that the building might be a death trap in the event of a fire.
There are people who say that planning departments are not fit for purpose, but I admire them – they are prepared to make unpopular decisions and destroy the lives of local residents, and still sleep soundly at night! 🙂
Their insane definition of less than substantial harm can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/national-planning-policy-framework/16-conserving-and-enhancing-the-historic-environment
To view the planning document click here.