An audacious planning application to build 95 homes on the Segas Sports Ground’s protected playing fields has been unanimously refused by Bromley Council following a speech by Conservative Councillor Michael Tickner on behalf of objecting residents.

58 individual written objections had been submitted in protest at the scheme.  It proposed building 3 x 5-storey tower blocks in the middle of the football pitches together with houses, tennis courts and a playground.

The playing fields are protected Metropolitan Open Land (Green Belt equivalent) and should be used only for sport.

Councillor Tickner, who represents Beckenham Town & Copers Cope Ward, told the Committee:

“We cannot sit back and allow greedy developers to ride roughshod over local residents’ health and wellbeing.  Open lands in Beckenham are the Lungs of London.”

There is huge demand from local sports clubs for more playing fields and there is great interest in using this land for sport.  However the owners have kept it out of use since 2016, refusing to let it for a fair price.

Councillor Tickner has said:

“I shall continue to campaign against concreting over our green spaces and, if this goes to appeal, I ask residents to please support me in objecting once again.”