®Planning appeal decision
Robert Whyte House, Oldfield Road, Bromley, BR1 2LF
Planning appeal 3363004 at Robert Whyte House, Oldfield Road, Bromley, BR1 2LF (London Borough of Bromley) was allowed on 4 August 2025 by Inspector Deane G, by written representations. The main issue, as the Inspector framed it: the effect of the development on specialist accommodation for older people.
the change of use from Use Class C2 to short-term residential accommodation for up to 24 no. Property Guardians with no internal or external alterations (Sui Generis) (Retrospective)
- Authority
- London Borough of Bromley
- Appeal type
- minor · Planning Appeal
- Procedure
- Written Representations
- Development
- residential · Change of use
- Inspector
- Deane G
- Postcode
- BR1 2LF
Main issues, as the Inspector framed them
- the effect of the development on specialist accommodation for older people
- the effect of the development on highway safety with regard to vehicle parking
What decided it
The building's unsuitability for vulnerable people due to fire safety concerns means it cannot provide sheltered housing in the short term regardless, and the temporary HMO use as a meanwhile use pending refurbishment or redevelopment is justified and contributes to housing supply without causing or significantly worsening highway safety problems.
The benefits of housing supply (albeit temporary and for smaller units), affordability, prevention of vacancy-related damage, and economic benefit outweigh the temporary loss of specialist accommodation for older people, which is justified by the building's fire safety unsuitability and the owner's longer-term plans to provide improved specialist accommodation.
What the Inspector cited
- Development plan policies
- Policy 11 of the Bromley Local PlanPolicy H3 of The London PlanPolicy H12 of The London PlanPolicy H13 of The London PlanPolicy 32 of the Bromley Local PlanPolicy T4 of The London Plan
- National Planning Policy Framework
- Paragraph 11
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
More decisions in London Borough of Bromley
The authority’s record since 2016 · every decision in 2025
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- Dismissed19 May 20266001435Former Public Conveniences, 2 High Street, Green Street Green, Orpington, BR6 6BQ
- Dismissed12 May 2026600251254 Stanley Road, Bromley, BR2 9JH
- Dismissed11 May 20266005255269 Eden Park Avenue, Beckenham, Bromley, BR3 3JN
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.