Wilde Road: Plans for houses on Erith parks set to be approved

Bexley Council wants to build 12 flats on two small parks in Wilde Road and Bronte Close as part of a bid to ease pressure for affordable housing and generate savings for the council.

A campaign group - Save Wilde Road - has been set up in response to the plans, and collected 161 signatures on a petition.

The decision to dispose of the site was made in 2016, and the proposals were also consulted on last year.

Chris Brown, one of SWR's organisers, told News Shopper: "The fight will still continue. We know we need homes, simple as. And we do need affordable and social housing.

"But why don't we build on what we already have? On disused, industrial brownfield sites rather than open spaces.

"The borough is only getting bigger, housing is only going to increase - open spaces will only decrease. There are much better places.

"People bought into the area with this land when the estate was built in 1995. It should be protected.

"When Northumberland Heath school was extended parking pushed into the estate. The peak times are 9am and 3pm, and this is dismissed by the report which says the peak times are overnight - it's a ghost town overnight."

What the buildings would look like should they be approved 

Twelve car parking spaces have been proposed for the development, which officers think would mean a low chance of overspilled parking.

According to a report, there are other five other open spaces within 600m of the site in Wilde Road.

Another one of the group's organisers, Viv Waters, said: "We don't have a voice because we don't own our own homes - but 160 people signed that petition. I have never known a backlash like this.

"Bronte Close is a cul-de-saq - you can't get a dustcart down there because of the parking. We have ambulances coming and going - it's impossible to build there without blocking everybody in. Even if there aren't 160 people at the meeting, their voice will be heard."

Council officers have now recommended the application be approved, stating there is "significant weight" in the importance of affordable housing included in the project.

In their report, officers said: "The benefits of the proposal are significant, including the delivery of housing and a high percentage of affordable housing.

"This should be accorded significant weight. It is also noted that the loss of open space is mitigated by a number of other public open spaces in the locality."

The breakdown of the flats in each building includes one one-bedroom, four two-bedroom and one three-bedroom - 50 per cent of which would be "affordable".

Officers also said the appearance of the development is acceptable because it would "respond well to the character" of existing houses.

A Labour motion to abandon building on both Wilde Road and another controversial scheme in Old Farm Park, Sidcup, was rejected when the Conservative council voted through its budget last week.

Aisha Malik-Smith and Wendy Perfect, Labour Party Action Team members for Northumberland Heath ward, said: "We are actively supporting residents in their campaign to stop the council building on their local parks and open spaces.

"These open spaces formed part of the overall development when residents moved into their houses during the late 1990s.

"Residents are now being told that the council plans to build on these open spaces which will set a dangerous precedent for open spaces across the borough.

"We will be continuing to campaign for the council to reconsider and cancel these proposals."

A council spokesman said: "The application will be dealt with in the same way as any other taking into consideration all the usual factors and that includes comments from residents."

A decision will be made at a meeting next Thursday, March 22.