Bexley Council's Planning Committee has approved plans for the construction of four new dwellings on Rutland Avenue in Sidcup, following a meeting on Thursday, July 23, 2026.
The decision grants permission for the demolition of an existing bungalow to make way for one single-storey dwelling and three two-storey attached dwellings. The proposal also includes provision for refuse storage and parking to the front of the properties.
During the committee's discussion, Councillor Mrs June Slaughter MBE expressed a personal dislike for the single-storey element, describing it as an afterthought.
However, council officers confirmed that the proposal meets all relevant London Plan minimum standards for the quality of residential accommodation and private outdoor space. Specifically, the single-storey unit has a Gross Internal Area (GIA) of approximately 50.3sq.m, exceeding the minimum 50sq.m for a two-person property, and a bedroom size of 12sq.m, surpassing the minimum 11.5sq.m requirement.
Concerns were also raised by councillors and objectors regarding bin storage and garden sizes. Objectors voiced worries about bin storage being undersized or poorly located, potentially causing clutter and obstruction on Broomfield Road, and raising issues with refuse collection drag distances. They also questioned if the bin stores would accommodate a garden waste bin. These concerns were addressed by an updated Refuse Management Plan, which confirmed on-site bin storage for Plots 1-4 and a management company moving bins for Plots 5-6 to a designated collection point. The council's refuse collection team confirmed the drag distance is acceptable. Regarding garden waste bins, it was noted that these are optional and residents could store them freestanding behind the bin structure if they opt in.
Each property will retain a suitably sized front and rear garden space, comparable to that of the neighbouring context. For the single-storey property, the garden size is approximately 49sq.m, exceeding the minimum 5sq.m plus 1sq.m per additional occupant. For the two-storey terraced properties, the GIA will be approximately 175.1sq.m, with garden sizes ranging from 57.2sq.m to 57.7sq.m. The end-of-terrace two-storey property will have a GIA of approximately 170.55sq.m and a garden size of approximately 52sq.m. All these garden sizes exceed the minimum requirements.
The approved development will provide new homes in an area designated for residential use, contributing to the borough's housing supply. Further details of the meeting can be found in the Public reports pack and the Decisions document.
