£4m Priory Gardens Warehouse Work Begins One Day After Election

Work has begun on the controversial £4 million warehouse development bordering Priory Gardens in Orpington, with construction starting on 9 May — just one day after the local elections.

The timing will not have gone unnoticed by many residents.

During the election campaign, the Conservatives spoke about protecting green spaces. Yet almost immediately after the votes had been counted, work began on a development that has faced strong opposition from local people and will cause significant disruption around one of Orpington’s best-known and most loved green spaces.

A year of disruption

Construction fencing has now been erected around the site, with access required through Priory Gardens.

One of the entrances to the park has been blocked off as part of the works, while fencing and construction activity are affecting the pathway through the gardens.

The disruption is expected to continue for around a year while the warehouse project is completed.

For residents who opposed the development, the situation raises an obvious question: how can politicians campaign as defenders of green spaces while supporting a £4 million warehouse development bordering one of Orpington’s most prominent public parks?

The fact that work began the day after the election only adds to the frustration.

You almost have to admire the timing — at least nobody had to answer awkward questions about construction fencing on their election leaflets.

Priory Gardens remains open

It is important to stress that Priory Gardens remains open.

The gardens and open spaces remain available to visitors and are still well worth enjoying and supporting. Priory Gardens is one of Orpington’s finest public spaces and should continue to be used throughout the construction period.

We can only hope that the noise, construction traffic and disruption have as little impact as possible on people using the park during the coming year.

But the bigger political question remains.

The development was unpopular with many residents. The Conservatives retained control of Bromley Council. Within a day of the election, work was underway.

Did Orpington really vote for this?