There were over 3600 objections to Areli’s original planning application, that was withdrawn October 22. This is one of the largest objections to a planning application recorded in the UK.
Currently we await a fresh planning application from Areli and we do not know what this planning application will include and whether it will be more acceptable to the residents of Orpington.
There are however important factors to take into account when commenting on a planning application There are some objections that carry more weight than others and some issues that you may think were valid grounds for objection that are not.
The following are valid reasons for objecting to a planning application
- Loss of light or overshadowing
- Overlooking/loss of privacy
- Visual amenity( but not loss of private view)
- Adequacy of parking/loading/turning
- Highway safety
- Traffic generation
- Noise and disturbance resulting from use
- Smells
- Loss of trees
- Effect on listed buildings and conservation area (Priory Gardens and parts of the Knoll full within Conservation areas)
- Layout and density of buildings, design appearance and materials
- Landscaping
- Road access
- Disabled person access
- Access for fire service
- Wildlife
- Protected views( there are two in Orpington)
- Approval of planning application would create a precedent meaning that it would be difficult to other proposals
- Local infrastructure not able to cope ie schools and health provision.
Some of the most effective objections are ones that evidence that the development is contrary to national , regional or local planning policy. Orpington is subject to the Local Plan and London Plan. These plans highlight what an area should look like and comment among other things on the preferred heights of buildings, the style of housing, the density of a development, green spaces, protected views, conservation areas etc. It is important that people object on grounds that contravene plans within these documents. They are lengthy reading but are invaluable tools when objecting to a planning application.
There are objections that are generally not valid and cannot be taken into consideration by the planning officers. These include:
- Reduction in the value of properties affected by the proposed development
- Impacts resulting from the construction of the development ie noise
- Loss of existing views
- Possibility of the proposed development causing problems in the future ie concerns of increase in crime.
As yet we do not know when the new planning application will be submitted to the LB Bromley but many local residents contributed to the supplementary planning document where residents had the opportunity to give their opinion on what Orpington should look like moving forward. It is hoped this document will be in affect by the time of Areli’s fresh planning application. A link for the document will be uploaded on to this page as soon as it comes into effect.
Finally the important thing is that when Areli’s new planning application is submitted, is that people do comment on the proposal on the Bromley planning portal and make their views known.