State your views on any future planning of Bexley
BY NEWS REPORTER
shuz@slpmedia.co.uk
Residents are being encouraged to attend an information event in Bexleyheath that is part of consultation on the Mayor of London’s new draft London Plan.
The consultation runs until March 2, and is the only chance to comment on the document before it is finalised. The London Plan is among the most important planning policy strategies the Mayor produces and will affect Bexley.
In the draft plan the Mayor of London proposes the following measures to address the capital’s housing crisis:
- increase the borough’s housing targets four-fold, from 446 units a year to 2,145.
- increase the amount of housing coming from small sites, mainly in Bexley’s residential areas around stations and town centres, eight-fold from around 110 units a year to 856.
- introduce a presumption that small housing developments (up to 25 units) will get planning
permission, with considerations limited to privacy, heritage, biodiversity and safeguarded land such as green belt. - remove housing density ranges so proposals are considered individually, but recognising that the existing character of residential areas will need to change.
- press for zero parking on developments in places considered to have good public transport, such as Bexleyheath town centre and Abbey Wood railway station.
- severely restrict the loss of any industrial floor space to other uses such as new housing.
The consultation event is being hosted by the leader of the Bexley council, Councillor Teresa O’Neill.
She said: “I encourage people to come along to hear the presentation and ask questions.
“This is your chance to raise directly any concerns you may have on how the Mayor sees development happening in the borough over the coming years.
“As the council, we have a number of significant issues, which we will put to the GLA at the event and in other forums.”
She added: “Bexley has a clear, well-constructed, evidence-based vision for growth, which is set out in our recently adopted Growth Strategy. It has cross-party support and we put it together over a number of years in partnership with the GLA and in consultation with our residents and local businesses.
“It demonstrates that we are happy to play our part in helping London grow, but only when supported with investment in key infrastructure.”
“This is the only consultation we will see on the plan, so I hope everyone will look carefully at what the Mayor has planned and make their views known.”
The event will take place on Thursday, February 1, from 10am and 12.30pm at the Civic Offices, 2 Watling Street, Bexleyheath.
It will include a presentation from Jules Pipe, Deputy Mayor of London for planning, regeneration and skills, and officers from the Greater London Authority.
They will outline the thinking behind the plan and answer questions from local people. The event is open to all, but spaces are limited.
Visit www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/draft-new-london-plan-consultation-event-bexley-registration-40030317758 to book your place.
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