Bromley (Parliament Politics Magazine) – A controversial plan to use a helicopter to lift materials to a Chislehurst manor house has resurfaced in Bromley, prompting renewed local debate.
Because of concerns that the proposed helicopter lift on the Cookham Dene estate would damage green belt area, Bromley Council planning officers rejected the plans earlier this year.
According to the plans, a hanger and lift would have been constructed beneath the grounds of the Grade II listed manor home, enabling a helicopter to take off after being elevated to ground level.
The estate’s owner has now filed an appeal against the local government’s ruling, which a separate planning inspector will review.
When the designs were first filed, there was disagreement among the locals; some neighbors were worried that the helicopter’s takeoff and landing would create excessive noise.
Despite ignoring these worries, the local government said that the application failed to provide any unique circumstances that would have outweighed the effects of the proposed lift on the green belt.
But according to the owner of the manor home, this situation would qualify for a number of exclusions that permit building on green belt territory.
Among these are the lift’s ability to facilitate “outdoor sport and recreation” and its potential as a “proportionate extension” to already-existing structures.
The grounds of the estate should be categorized as “grey belt,” which refers to previously constructed regions within the green belt, they add.
“Whilst situated underground, the proposals are of an appropriate scale and design and would not result in any adverse impact on the character or visual appearance of the area,” the appeal states.
“The lift would only be perceived when in the ‘open’ position, albeit the structure is not solid, and this would only be very temporary.”
Despite 12 objections to the scheme, three people also submitted letters of support for the plans.
One neighbour said:
“It is only a little helicopter. It is a cool Thunderbirds-style contraption.
At the end of the day if you live somewhere like this then you expect people to want these things. This guy is like Batman.”
Since at least 2005, the manor house’s grounds have reportedly been utilized “regularly” for helicopter takeoffs and landings.
According to the manor home owner’s appeal, as long as the helicopter isn’t utilized more than 28 days a year, no planning permission is required.
How does the proposed underground helicopter lift impact local residents’ daily life?
The proposed underground helicopter lift at Cookham Dene manor house in Chislehurst, Bromley, is expected to impact local residents’ daily life primarily due to noise and pollution caused by helicopter takeoffs and landings.
Even though the underground lift itself is designed to blend into the landscape with a grass-covered lid and reduce visual impact, the noise disruptions remain a major concern expressed by neighbors. They report disturbances such as rattling doors and interference with daily activities, including impacting children in the area.
The proposal highlights the tension between the luxury and convenience desires of estate owners and the quality of life of nearby residents.