Bexleyheath building to be revamped for new flats if plans approved

Plans have been submitted to alter a building undergoing work to convert from offices to 26 flats.

Broadway House in Bexleyheath already has permitted development rights to covert upper floors. That dates from 2017, and last year plans were approved to add another floor on top. This latest application states brickwork is in poor condition and seems to change the external appearance.

Under permitted development, which was introduced over the last decade, developers can convert offices to homes without planning approval – and they do not need to meet existing standards on space, room sizes nor provide any “affordable” homes. That’s only if they do not change the external appearance.

Here they’ve begun work then stated the external materials are in poor condition and requested changes.

The application states:

“Due to the poor quality of the bricks, it is not possible to jet wash or replace these without major structural repair works. By rendering this, it will conceal the poor quality of brickwork along with associated repairs and be in keeping with the rest of the new elements of the building work including new windows and additional storey.”

The new render is “specified to be high quality and crack resistant, which is suited to older buildings liable to movement and cracking”.

One issue with render is that it can stain quite badly within a short period. Who then maintains?

Click here to view plans.