®Planning appeal decision
Former Sports Ground , Worsley Bridge Road, Bromley, BR3 1RL
Planning appeal 3315293 at Former Sports Ground , Worsley Bridge Road, Bromley, BR3 1RL (London Borough of Bromley) was dismissed on 11 August 2023 by Inspector Palmer N, following an inquiry. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: whether or not the proposal would be inappropriate development on Metropolitan Open Land.
Demolition of all existing buildings on site and redevelopment to provide residential development comprising a mix of dwellinghouses and apartment blocks (part 3 and part 5 storeys), including affordable housing, public open space fronting Worsley Bridge Road, onsite play space, public sports facilities, landscaping, car parking and ancillary works.
- Authority
- London Borough of Bromley
- Appeal type
- major · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Inquiry
- Development
- residential · Major dwellings
- Inspector
- Palmer N
- Postcode
- BR3 1RL
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- whether or not the proposal would be inappropriate development on Metropolitan Open Land
- the effect of the proposal on the purposes and openness of the Metropolitan Open Land
- the effect of the proposal on open space, sports and recreational facilities
- the effect of the proposal on the character and appearance of the area
- whether or not the affordable housing provision would accord with planning policy
- whether any harm by reason of inappropriateness, and any other harm, would be clearly outweighed by other considerations, so as to amount to the very special circumstances needed to justify the proposal
What decided it
The cumulative harm to the Metropolitan Open Land (inappropriateness and loss of openness/purposes) combined with the unacceptable loss of sports and recreational facilities was not clearly outweighed by the benefits, so very special circumstances were not established.
The adverse impacts of loss of MOL, loss of sports pitches and harm to character and appearance significantly and demonstrably outweighed the identified benefits (including market and affordable housing, open space, biodiversity and economic benefits) when assessed against the Framework policies as a whole, so the tilted balance favoured refusal.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy G3Policy S5CPolicy 58Policy 20Policy D3Policy D4Policy 4Policy 37Policy H4Policy H5Policy H5CPolicy 50Policy H2Policy S4Policy 2
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11Paragraph 98Paragraph 99
How the Inspector dealt with each one is set out in the app, in order: the development plan, national policy, housing land supply, other considerations and the planning balance, beside the letter.
See how each was appliedThe decision letter
Town Planner Pro holds this letter. The Appeals plan opens it and every other letter we hold, all of them searchable, with the main issues and what decided each case picked out. We do not show letters on the free site because they carry people’s names and addresses.
With an account
What an account adds to this decision
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The main issues, what decided it, the planning balance and the policies and judgments listed as cited are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro and are our summary, not the Inspector’s words; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.