Last October, Bexley Council raised a number of concerns about the development in Parsonage Manorway, which would have seen The Great Harry demolished.
Kallarview Developments Limited had initially applied to build 32 flats in a three-storey block on the land, but later reduced their plans to 30 flats.
The local authority accepted that there were “very limited prospects” of the pub, which shut in 2021, being reopened in the “foreseeable future”, and said its demolition would be “acceptable”.
However, planning officers still refused the application, listing seven key concerns.
The developer has appealed the decision, which means an independent planning inspector will now decide whether the plans can go ahead.
Denying the application, Bexley Council told Kallarview that they had not adequately justified the lack of affordable housing in the proposed development.
But the developer has said that a new assessment of the financial viability of the scheme suggests that it would not be possible to provide any affordable housing.
The council also raised concerns that the design of the building would be detrimental to the character of the local area, and that seven of the flats would have a “substandard” outlook.
Kallarview has claimed this assessment is “subjective” and that the scheme “is not of poor design quality” and has “evolved through a fully explained, iterative design process”.
They added that the view from these flats would not result in residents having unacceptable living conditions as they look out onto a garden and patio space.
The council also objected to the small amount of outdoor space, the isolated location of the accessible flats in the block and the lack of urban greening.
The developer claims garden space is “generous” and that the accessible flats have been located as close to their dedicated parking spaces as possible.
Planning officers also said that the new block would overlook a neighbouring home, but Kallarview says that the two buildings would be separated by 19 metres, claiming this is “in excess of what would normally be expected”.
A Planning Inspectorate hearing is now set to begin next Wednesday (June 4).
