Orchard Lodge, 1B Copers Cope Road, BECKENHAM, BR3 1NB

described on the application form as ‘demolition of existing property; erection of 8no. apartments with associated works

Authority: London Borough of Bromley
Appeal type: minor · Planning Appeal
Procedure: Written Representations
Development: residential · Minor Dwellings
Inspector: Ollerenshaw M

Main issues, as the Inspector framed them

The effect of the proposed development on the character and appearance of the area
The effect of the proposed development upon the living conditions of neighbouring occupiers, with regard to outlook

What decided it

The Council's failure to demonstrate a five-year housing land supply, which engaged the presumption in favour of sustainable development and justified granting permission despite the minor harm to character and appearance.

The moderate adverse impacts on character and appearance did not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the benefits of housing delivery (seven new units) and the effective re-use of a previously developed site in an accessible location, with the presumption in favour of sustainable development tipping the balance in favour of the proposal.

Framework references: 11

Plan policies cited: Bromley Local Plan (2019) Policy 1, Bromley Local Plan (2019) Policy 4, Bromley Local Plan (2019) Policy 8, Bromley Local Plan (2019) Policy 37, London Plan (2021) Policy D3, London Plan (2021) Policy D6, London Plan (2021) Policy H2

Read the decision letter on the Inspectorate’s site

The main issues and the deciding factor are read from the published letter by Town Planner Pro; the letter itself is the record. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Research, not advice.

What an account adds

Draw a red line around your site and the appraisal follows.

Heritage. Listed buildings by grade and distance, conservation areas, scheduled monuments, registered parks and gardens, heritage at risk.
Landscape and environment. Green belt, national parks and national landscapes, SSSIs, ancient woodland, SPA, SAC and Ramsar sites, nutrient catchments.
Flooding. Flood zones 2 and 3, surface water, and both again with climate change.
Transport. The 800 metre station catchment and service frequency, bus stops with their weekday frequency, the cycle network, and the Framework’s transport tests measured for the site.

Then the development plan position, the housing land supply as an Inspector last accepted it, and every appeal decided around the site with its letter.

Every English appeal since 2016, with the letter behind it wherever the Inspectorate published one. Searched by meaning as well as by words, with the key case law counted live across the letters.

Casework that chases the deadlines. Applications, appeals and conditions with their statutory dates.

The judgement stays yours. The tool gathers the material and dates it.