A push by the Department for Education to develop a school in Bromley which could have been “one of the tallest in the world” has reportedly been abandoned.

Councillors representing Bromley Town ward confirmed over the weekend plans by London South East Academies Trust (LSEAT) to build the 10-storey academy on the corner of Westmoreland Road and Masons Hill have been ditched.

It comes after Bromley council’s planning committee first rejected the plans, which didn’t include a play area or on-site parking, at a meeting in 2018.

LSEAT subsequently appealed the decision, however the planning inspector upheld the council’s judgement, saying the 119-foot proposal would have a “significant adverse impact” on neighbours.

It left plans for the site in limbo, with a further application for a smaller school design among the options considered by LSEAT, who were backed by the Department for Education, who also own the land.

Bromley Town ward councillors and council officers met with the Department for Education in February this year, where the former reiterated their continued belief the site was “completely unsuitable” for a school.

However, this month councillors were informed by the Department for Education the plans would be abandoned.

The news was welcomed by ward members, including Cllr Will Harmer, who said the move could potentially see the corner block instead developed into office space or homes.

“This site was never suitable for a school and the children of the Borough deserve better than being educated in a tower block on one of the busiest junctions in the Borough without any outdoor space,” Cllr Harmer said.

“It is likely that the site will now be identified for either residential or office space and we will work with any developer that brings forward a suitable site for the area that respects local residents and improves our town centre.”

If it had gone ahead, up to 1260 pupils between 11 and 19 years of age could have been educated at the site.

Called the Science, Health and Wellbeing Academy, the proposal would have been the tallest school in Britain according to planning documents, and could have been one of the tallest in the world.

Bromley Town’s ward members said they were “very confident” there was significant capacity to educate children elsewhere in the borough.