A proposal to establish a conservation area at Shortlands village is set to be moved forward.

Members of Bromley Council’s development control committee will be tasked with deciding whether to start public consultation on the measure at a meeting next week.

Establishing a conservation area would add extra constraints to developers looking to build there, in a bid to preserve the historic character of the neighbourhood, with planning applications required to either preserve or enhance the village. 

A report to council on the matter says that the village “is an historically and architecturally interesting suburb that, as with so many suburbs in London, developed following the arrival of the railway and station in the

area”.

“In Shortlands’ case the station opened in 1858 prompting a flurry of sales of land for development,” the report states. 

It adds the area is “under developmental pressure, as will all London suburbs, particularly those with good transport links to the centre”. 

While most development has been restricted to loft conversions and house extensions, there are “several houses that have been remodelled in a way which has harmed their historic character”. 

“Shortlands Village’s over riding character is that of modest railway village with artisan housing for those on low incomes and is no less interesting for that,” the report states, recommending that plans move ahead to establish the conservation area.

The area already contains three listed buildings, consisting of the two pumping stations and the Old Cottage opposite Shortlands Station,

Bromley Town’s ward councillors have voiced their support to move forward with the consultation, saying it’ll allow more residents to share their views.

Councillors will be asked their views on to whether to extend the Bromley town centre conservation area to include Shortlands, or give the village its own desperate area.

The committee meets on July 14.