Parents were left 'perplexed' last night after Bromley Council rejected the application to build a new secondary school on St Nicolas Lane.

The first Kier Construction planning application for Bullers Wood School for Boys was rejected in January 2017. A second application was then accepted in October 2017.

A new school in Chislehurst was backed by over 2,000 people with one campaigner going to bizzare lenghts to ecourage the result. 

It was hoped Bullers Wood School for Boys would open in September in a facility that could accommodate up to 900 pupils.

However, at last night's (January 25) development control committee meeting, this decision was overturned.

This was because of legal advice Bromley Council received encouraging them to consider new material relating to traffic.

Councillor Peter Fortune, executive councillor for education, children and families, said: “As a result of the decision reached this evening regarding Bullers Wood Boys School please be assured that the local authority is still ready to meet the demand for secondary school places in the Borough.

"Admissions officers stand ready to accept calls to reassure parents that a place will be available for their son.

"Bromley has exceptionally high achieving schools and we are sure that all children will have the very best experience during their secondary education.”

One supporter of the new school told News Shopper: "Many parents are left perplexed at the decision as Bromley faces an admitted shortage of 2200 secondary school places by 2022.

"For the 180 boys in Year 6 hoping to be the first Bullers Wood Boys class in September the news is devastating.

"Approval last night was expected to be a formality."

Councillor Peter Dean, chairman of development control committee, added: “This was an immensely difficult decision.

"The committee accepted the concerns identified in Inspector’s report about the road safety and traffic concerns and in these circumstances, decided to refuse the application.”