John Lewis is facing controversy over plans to build two tower blocks above a Waitrose in a south London suburb.
The retail giant wants to build a 24-storey tower on top of its Waitrose shop in Bromley, alongside a nineteen-storey block to provide 353 new homes.
John Lewis, which will own and rent out the apartments at 45 Mason Hill, argues that redevelopment of the site would help deliver new homes in a town centre location benefiting local residents and businesses.
But some locals have voiced fears that the height of the towers - dubbed the ‘Waitrose Tower’ - mean the development will loom over their homes, while others have raised concerns about a lack of affordable housing.
In a submission to Bromley Council, one resident said: “The proposed development is obscene. Grossly out of keeping with the town and setting a dreadful precedent for future schemes.
“Other smaller developments further up Masons Hill are perfectly acceptable but the Waitrose Tower is not.”
Another added: “This tower will be overlooking my property so this affects my privacy.”
However, a third said: “I am in favour of this proposed development - I cannot believe that other local residents are against this, quite frankly what planet are they living on?
“This scheme should proceed, to ensure that additional flats are built in the centre of Bromley, on a brownfield site as well, so the objectors will have nothing reasonable to complain about.”
Among those raising concerns was the council’s conservation officer, who wrote that the “proposal is overly large and tall and will therefore have a negative harmful” on views in the area.
However, John Lewis’s experts have argued that the design and make-up of the scheme meant it would not “loom” over the nearby area.
The retailer is also in talks with the Greater London Authority over grant funding that could increase the proportion of affordable housing to 35 per cent.
A spokesman for John Lewis said: “We believe there’s an opportunity to make better use of a town centre, brownfield site to deliver more for the community, which we have been part of for 27 years.
“By transforming the site we can deliver much-needed energy efficient rental homes as well as communal spaces, play areas, a new Waitrose store and create new jobs. We’re continuing to respond to the comments received as part of the planning process.”
A date for a decision to be made on the application has not yet been set.
