LONDON Mayor Ken Livingstone has rejected two plans for a new secondary school in Bromley Common.

The plans were called in by the Mayor after Bromley Council approved them both earlier this month.

One, on the former Blue Circle site by Crown Lane Spur, would involve 295 houses in addition to the school, while the other, on Magpie Hall Lane, would involve just the school.

The council has issued refusal notices to the applicants, but considers it likely they will appeal, in which case a public enquiry would consider the proposals later this year.

The decision is ultimately likely to come from the secretary of state for the Department of Transport, Local Government and the Regions. (DTLR)

Extra school places are desperately needed in the borough, which has a predicted shortfall of 264 places in September 2003, when the school should open.

Residents and environmentalists protested against the proposals when a special meeting of the council Development Control Committee gave them the go-ahead last month.

The Bromley Green Belt Advocacy Group (BGBA) is opposed to both plans, and their protest is supported by Green Party Greater London Assembly (GLA) member Darren Johnson.