CLOSURE could be the only solution to the problems surrounding a housing scheme for young people in Sundridge, a councillor has announced.

Bromley Council housing and social security committee chairman Councillor Malcolm Hyland says the council will consider closing Charles Darwin House if relationships between tenants and the community do not improve by December 4.

He says it was a mistake to move all of 23 residents in at the same time because this prevented a settled environment being established.

But English Churches Housing Association, which runs the scheme, says it is working hard to solve the problems and is already seeing results.

Cllr Hyland said: “Everyone should be aware closure is an option, but we have a contract with English Churches Housing and we have to give it time to get it right.”

English Churches Housing regional director Robert Black said: “The majority of law-abiding people at Charles Darwin deserve a chance to keep their homes. It is unhelpful to focus on closure when measures we are taking are starting to reduce problems.

On September 3 councillors will meet to consider putting a deadline of December 4 for improvements to be seen on English Churches Housing.