John Lewis criticized for affordable housing plans

John Lewis is also planning to build 428 homes in West Ealing, London. Photo: SECCHI SMITH

This project is one of three rental homes. home schemes planned by John Lewis as part of a push to diversify away from retail. Mutual wants to build 353 one, two and three-bedroom apartments above its Waitrose store in Bromley.

The latest applications have been received after a lengthy consultation process with local residents. At a meeting in Bromley in June, John Lewis told local residents that it was proposing to provide 20 per cent more affordable housing under the scheme.

John Lewis is still in talks with the council and London authorities as it seeks to increase the proportion of affordable housing The development's housing supply has reached 35%.

A spokesman for the John Lewis Partnership said: “We are proposing to build much-needed brownfield homes in Bromley to help address the housing shortage and will continue to look at how we maximize the number of homes available , which will target key workers.”

The warning that there may be a minimum number of affordable homes under the project risks fueling local anger over the housing shortage. The scheme, which has already been criticized by councillors.

Speaking to The Telegraph in July, Julie Ireland, leader of Bromley's Liberal Democrats, said the project was «simply unacceptable» and accused the mutual scheme of lacking respect

John Lewis's main property is in West Ealing, London, where 428 new homes are being built.