John Lewis in hot water over housing plans

LUKE THOMAS

JOHN LEWIS has defended itself from criticism over plans for a housing development in London, after local councillors accused the company of a “lack of respect”.

The head of Bromley local authority branded the proposed development as “just not acceptable” due to an overwhelming lack of affordable homes.

John Lewis submitted a planning application for the Bromley project in late June, detailing 353 one, two and threebedroom flats above a Waitrose store.

John Lewis previously warned locals that as little as 20 per cent of homes would be classed as affordable at the Bromley site, and said grant funding would be needed to increase affordable supply.

Julie Ireland, councillor and leader of Bromley Liberal Democrats, criticised the plans and said John Lewis “should be able to fund this from within their own resources”.

“People would not be happy thinking that their council tax money is being used to subsidise this new project from John Lewis,” Ireland told The Telegraph.

“In Bromley in particular, there is a real dearth of affordable housing to the extent that we almost have no options for key workers, such as teachers and the NHS, as well as young people looking for their first home. There’s just nothing in that range at the moment,” she said.

A John Lewis Partnership spokesperson told City A.M. the company is “committed to achieving” an affordable housing rate of 35 per cent in its housing developments.

It comes as the business attempts to pivot its interests away from retail, with chair Dame Sharon White aiming for 40 per cent of profits to be generated from outside retail by 2030.

British Airways hopes to see passenger numbers return to pre-pandemic levels next year