Hundreds of residents packed into Bromley Civic Centre on Tuesday evening to voice their objections to a planning application that, if approved, would see 340 homes built on land currently designated as green belt. The proposal, submitted by Meridian Homes Ltd, has drawn criticism from environmental groups, local councillors from across the political spectrum, and residents who argue the infrastructure simply cannot support additional demand.
The application covers roughly 12 hectares near the village of Keston and includes a mix of two- and three-bedroom properties. Meridian Homes argues the development would help address the borough's housing shortfall, which currently stands at around 1,800 units according to the council's own figures. The company's planning director, Simon Greer, told the meeting that the site had been "carefully chosen to minimise ecological impact" and that a new access road would be funded entirely by the developer.
That assurance did little to calm the room. Several speakers pointed out that the nearest primary school is already operating above capacity, and that the A232 corridor experiences significant congestion during peak hours. "You can't just build houses and hope the services appear," said Councillor Janet Forde, who represents the Crofton ward. "We've been asking for a new GP surgery for four years. We're still waiting."
The council's planning committee is expected to make a decision at its September meeting. If approved, the development would be the largest on green belt land in the borough since 2014. Campaign group Save Keston Fields has already indicated it will seek a judicial review if the application goes through.