John Lewis has finally received plannign permission to begin its transformation into a build-to-rent landlord after Bromley Council approved its plans for 353 rental homes.

The existing store at the site will be retained but joined by four towers each of 24, 19, 12 and 10 storeys and the development will ‘car free’.

Despite strong objections from locals including the Bromley Civic Society, Waitrose can now start work on a block of energy efficient flats and a modernised store, along with green spaces, a cafe and cycle and pedestrian links to the high street and surrounding area.

The one, two and three-bedroom flats will have shared areas for fitness, home-working and socialising.

Options for long-term tenancies will be available to residents while local people will be prioritised for the new homes, which will be developed, owned and managed by John Lewis Partnership.

Affordable

However, last month it admitted that only 30 of the properties would be offered at affordable rents of not more than 80% of the market average - short of its target of making 20% of homes in the project affordable - after it failed to secure a London grant.

James Dunne, head of operational real estate at abrdn, which has a £500m joint venture with John Lewis to deliver about 1,000 new homes across three sites, says well designed and professionally managed rental homes are a vital component in helping to solve the UK’s housing needs.

He adds: “Build-to-rent on brownfield sites such as this can also act as an anchor for town centre regeneration and wider community investment.”

John Lewis recently announced it would launch a planning appeal over its proposals for new homes in West Ealing. The application was submitted nearly a year ago and is still being reviewed by Ealing Council.

In Reading, consultations are still ongoing into plans to convert a vacant John Lewis warehouse into housing.