Proposed development of a new home for children in Bromley

We want to hear your views. The project team are available to talk you through our plans at initial engagement sessions at Community House, South Street, Bromley BR1 1RH at the following times:

• Wednesday 17 December 2025 from 9:30am to 12:30pm
• Thursday 18 December 2025 from 4pm to 7pm

We will be carrying out more engagement sessions in 2026.

The Home for Children is proposed to be built on the site of the Wharton Road Car park.

While the Wharton Road Car park will close to make way for this much-needed Children’s home, the playground will be retained and remain open during the works.

Children come into care when their families cannot provide a safe and stable environment. Right now, over 50 Children from the borough are in residential placements, many outside the borough. This means they're often far from their schools, friends, and familiar surroundings. By creating a local Home for Children, we can:

• Keep Bromley children close to their friends, schools and support networks.
• Reduce reliance on costly private placements, saving council taxpayer money.
• Provide better, more consistent care.
• Offer children a safe, nurturing environment locally.

Alongside the home, there will be a small self-contained flat for a young adult leaving care. This gives them a safe stepping stone into adulthood, with support nearby but greater independence.

The home will provide a safe and caring environment for children and young people aged 11 to 18 who need care and stability. It will be staffed 24/7 by trained professionals, always ensuring safety and support. This home will help support the children’s wellbeing and future success, with the support of the neighbouring community also helping with this.

• Planning application: to be submitted in the coming months
• Construction: expected to begin by Autumn 2026
• Completion: expected by the end of 2027

We would work closely with the contractor to minimise noise, traffic and disruption. Updates will be shared with local residents throughout the process.

Yes. While we understand some neighbouring residents may be disappointed, the car park has not been needed for some time to support town centre parking.
The car park currently costs the council more to operate than the income it generates, which supports a change of use for the land to better meet the borough’s needs. A parking survey is being undertaken to assess the local situation ahead of a planning application being submitted for this much-needed dedicated home for children, which would significantly benefit the lives of children in the council’s care.

The £1.76m development of the new home for children would be funded and delivered by Bromley Council. The council has also successfully secured £200k funding from the Greater London Authority to support the self-contained flat.

Wherever possible, mature trees would be kept. It would be carefully assessed if any need to be removed and they will be replaced with new planting to enhance the green character of the site.

Your feedback matters. You can:

• Attend the engagement sessions listed above.
• Submit comments once the planning application is live.

Wharton Road Children's Home - Feedback Form       

All feedback will be considered and help guide the emerging proposals.