The original permission, granted in May 2022, was for the demolition of the former care home buildings and the construction of a new 107-bed care home, up to three storeys above ground with a basement, with on-site parking, cycle parking and landscaping. That permission was later amended in 2024 through a non-material amendment (a minor change to the approved plans), which increased the approved capacity to 109 beds and one guest suite, and made a number of changes to the internal layout, parking and roof design. The permission was later implemented in July 2025.

Hallmark Luxury Care Homes is proposing a new 110-bed care home at 32 Orchard Road, providing residential, nursing and dementia care, as before. The building would be arranged over three floors, with 43 bedrooms on the ground floor, 49 at first floor and 18 larger bedroom suites on the second floor.

The revised plans are for a building that is smaller and simpler than the approved scheme. The main change is the removal of the basement, which previously contained care team parking, communal space and some accommodation. This means the total amount of floorspace would be reduced by around 2,078 sq m, or about 22%, while providing 110 bedrooms, compared with 109 in the approved scheme.

The building has also been redesigned with a more compact H-shaped layout, bringing more of it towards the centre of the site and creating more garden space for residents. The proposals provide 46 spaces for the team and visitors, with all spaces now at ground level instead of split between the basement and ground level as approved.

The new design avoids bedroom windows facing homes to the east and west. These are changes that have been made following conversations with Bromley Council officers during the pre-application stage.

The basement required significant excavation, additional materials, higher carbon emissions, and a longer construction programme causing more disturbance to neighbours.

As part of the old design, it would also have included some bedrooms looking onto a lowered courtyard. While the design aimed to bring in as much daylight as possible, these rooms would have had a more limited outlook. Removing them means all bedrooms can offer a better overall living environment.

No. Although the revised proposal would provide 110 bedrooms compared with 109 in the approved scheme, the building would be substantially smaller overall. Total floorspace would reduce from around 9,566 sq m to 7,488 sq m, a reduction of around 22%, mainly because the basement has been removed.

The proposed care home would have three floors above ground: a ground floor, first floor and a second floor, which would mostly sit within the roof. The overall height is broadly the same as the approved scheme.

The revised plans keep the look and feel of the previously approved frontage, using pitched roofs, gables, brick and tile details that reflect the Arts and Crafts style seen in the local area.

Rather than looking like one large building, the care home is broken up into smaller sections to give it a more residential feel. Landscaping along Orchard Road would also be retained, and the main entrance would be clearly marked by a central gable.

The revised layout has been designed to reduce the care home’s impact on surrounding homes. More of the building is positioned towards the centre of the site, creating more separation from neighbouring boundaries, particularly to the east. The design also avoids bedroom windows facing homes to the east and west.

The revised design has been developed to minimise overlooking of neighbouring properties. No bedrooms would face directly towards homes to the east or west.  

The building would be moved further west, creating more space between the care home and neighbouring homes to the east. This extra space would allow for more planting along the boundary, while keeping existing trees where possible, to provide additional privacy.

The design has also been carefully planned with homes in High Grove in mind. In the south-east corner, the building would be further away from the nearest homes at 4 and 5 High Grove, than in the approved scheme. The middle part of the building would be slightly closer to the southern boundary, but there are no homes directly behind this section facing the site. Mature trees already provide separation from 6 High Grove, and existing planting along the southern boundary would be kept and strengthened with new landscaping to help protect neighbours’ privacy and views.

The proposals currently include 46 on-site parking spaces for the team and visitors, which is only a small reduction from the 50 provided by the approved scheme.

An updated Transport Assessment will accompany the planning application to demonstrate how parking will operate in practice and how demand will be managed.

The approved scheme provided most of its parking within the basement. As part of Hallmark Luxury Care Homes’ wider redesign, the basement has been removed to make the care home more viable to build.

The proposals retain the same care home use and are very similar in capacity to the approved scheme, with 110 bedrooms compared with 109. An updated Transport Assessment will accompany the planning application to assess traffic generation and how parking, access, deliveries and servicing would be managed.

The proposals would keep the two existing entrances onto Orchard Road. Vehicles would enter through the eastern entrance and leave through the central entrance, creating a simple one-way route through the site.

Hallmark Luxury Care Homes would manage delivery and collection times to help reduce disturbance for neighbours. Where possible, suppliers would be asked to operate within agreed hours and use quieter reversing warnings.

A detailed plan setting out how deliveries, servicing and waste collections will be managed will be submitted as part of the planning application.

The aim is to keep as many of the existing trees as possible, especially those around the edges of the site which help give it its leafy feel and provide screening for neighbouring homes.

Yes. New planting would be added alongside the trees and greenery already around the site. In particular, the building would be set further back from the eastern boundary, creating more space for planting between the care home and neighbouring homes. A more detailed landscaping plan will be prepared as the design develops and submitted with the planning application.

The current plans provide around 4,108 sq m of garden space, which is 47% of the site, and around twice as much accessible garden space as the approved scheme.

The care home would operate in the same way as the approved scheme, so the day-to-day impact would not increase, especially as it will be smaller now.

Nonetheless, an updated noise assessment will accompany the planning application and will specifically consider potential sources of noise and any mitigation required to protect neighbouring homes.

Waste collections are currently expected to take place twice a week during the day, and the bin store would be enclosed and securely managed. Hallmark Luxury Care Homes would also look to agree suitable delivery times with suppliers and, where possible, use vehicles with quieter reversing warnings.

A detailed construction programme has not yet been confirmed. However, the revised scheme has been specifically designed to reduce construction time compared with the approved scheme. Subject to planning permission, construction could begin in 2027.

Construction impacts will be carefully managed through an updated Construction Logistics Management Plan and Construction Environmental Management Plan. These will set out measures for managing construction vehicle movements, noise, dust and other potential effects on neighbouring properties and the surrounding road network.

There is an identified need for additional high-quality care accommodation in Bromley as the local population ages. Hallmark Luxury Care Homes’ own research suggests that there remains a significant undersupply of care beds in the borough, including demand for residential, nursing and dementia care. Bromley Council’s latest pre-application response continues to support the principle of care home development on the site.

Current plans include lounges and dining areas, a café, library, cinema, hydrotherapy pool, gym, salon and spaces for activities and celebrations, as well as landscaped gardens. The second floor would also include a lounge, bar and study.

Hallmark Luxury Care Homes expects the care home to provide a significant number of jobs across a range of care, hospitality, management and support roles. Final numbers are being developed as the operational plans for the new care home are progressed.

Yes. Hallmark Luxury Care Homes submitted the revised proposals to Bromley Council for pre-application advice in February 2026, followed by an online meeting with Council officers in April 2026. The Council issued its formal written pre-application response in June 2026.

Hallmark Luxury Care Homes is undertaking a public consultation before submitting the planning application. Residents are able to provide feedback by following the instructions on the ‘Have Your Say’ page.

Yes. The purpose of consulting before the planning application is submitted is to give local residents and stakeholders an opportunity to understand the proposals, raise questions and identify any issues that should be considered as the plans are finalised. All feedback will be logged and reviewed by the project team. The feedback received will be summarised in the Statement of Community Engagement submitted with the application.

A final submission date has not yet been confirmed. The current programme is to undertake consultation during September 2026, with feedback then reviewed before the planning application is finalised and submitted to Bromley Council.