Bromley Council gives the go-ahead for Countryside Partnerships and Riverside to deliver 275 new homes in Beckenham, with works starting this spring

Countryside Partnerships, one of the UK’s leading mixed-tenure developers and Riverside, a national housing association and care provider with over 75,000 homes, have secured planning permission from Bromley Council for the redevelopment of the Calverley Close estate in Beckenham, delivering 275 new homes, comprising 96 homes available to buy and 179 affordable homes for the estate’s existing residents.

Designed by architects HTA and with a funding contribution from the GLA, the new development will replace the current affordable housing with high quality homes that meet the specific needs of existing residents, as well as delivering 96 additional residential homes to meet the pressing housing need in the local area.

Planning for the site included a two-stage approval process, the first of which was approved in September 2022 for the demolition of a decommissioned care home. The second stage, which has been approved on Tuesday 10 January 2023 by Bromley’s Development Control Committee, is for the comprehensive redevelopment of Calverley Close, which will provide 275 new homes for the residents of Bromley. With planning permission now granted, works will commence on the site in spring 2023, with construction due to commence in October 2023.

With planning permission now granted, works will commence on the site in Spring 2023, with construction due to commence in October 2023. The programme is phased over 10 years; the first block within the new scheme is set to be delivered in early 2025. This phasing has been planned so that existing residents will only need to move once. Countryside Partnerships and Riverside will also ensure to work with local residents to reduce the impact of construction.

Calverley Close offers an opportunity for the regeneration of one of the borough’s largest housing estates. The vision is to provide a range of benefits for existing residents, including significantly improving the quality of homes to meet modern standards and to enhance the surrounding open spaces, as well as enabling the site to make a positive contribution to the character of the local surrounding area.

The scheme is also net biodiversity positive. The buildings will provide for more energy efficient homes, with a new energy centre proposed as part of the scheme.  The new energy strategy will reduce carbon emissions and be more environmentally sustainable, with long term benefits for residents.

The proposed residential development of Calverley Close aims to transform the current site into an integrated residential and public realm environment. Alongside much needed housing, the site will deliver additional facilities for residents including green, open spaces that support wellbeing, 20% of car parking spaces with active charging points and an on-site car club, allowing residents to have access to cars that can be used on a pay-as-you-go basis, thus saving additional costs and having a reduced impact on the environment. Residents will also benefit from fantastic connections to transport, schools and other essential amenities, as well as cycle parking provision, in line with the London Plan.

Ray Toft, Managing Director, South London, Countryside Partnerships, said: “Following the residents ballot approval for the regeneration in 2021, we have worked tirelessly with residents, the council and local community to design a scheme that delivers for everyone, and so we are thrilled our plans have been approved.

“The redevelopment of the Calverley Close estate is a fantastic opportunity to deliver a significant number of new, high-quality homes for local residents, creating a vastly improved neighbourhood and integrating existing and new communities. We have put the community at the heart of these plans and so we are truly excited to be able to commence construction.”

Nathan Gravesande, Development Director, Riverside, commented: “We are pleased that the redevelopment of Calverley Close is commencing this year so that we can realise our vision of creating homes that are up to the high standard our residents deserve, and homes which are fit for the future.  We have listened closely to what our customers have told us and are delighted to be moving forward with this exciting joint vision for the estate.”