Issue - meetings

Report DRR16/084

The Committee considered a report providing an update on progress in delivering the Town Centres Development and Growth Programme.

Progress across the sites that made up the Bromley Town Centre Area Action Plan included a procurement exercise to select a preferred development partner to deliver a residential-led scheme as part of the next phase of development of Site G: West of High Street.  Two bids had been received from shortlisted bidders on 21^st October 2016 and were being evaluated with the expectation that an award of tender report would be submitted to the Council’s Executive in early 2017.  The Local Authority continued to engage with all stakeholders around an appropriate development for Site A: Bromley North Station, and the Draft Local Plan would include a revised policy for the site that would be published for consultation in Autumn 2016.  Three provisional offers had been received for 9^th Floor, Bromley Central Library which had been identified as suitable to offer flexible workspace for start-up businesses.

In considering development across the Borough, at its meeting on 18^th October 2016, the Council’s Executive had approved the overall scheme design and budget for the Beckenham town centre public realm improvements which had now entered the implementation phase, and the Local Authority was working with partners to develop a Regeneration Strategy for Orpington to provide a direction for growth over the next ten years.  The New Homes Bonus Public Realm Scheme was funding a range of projects including public realm improvement schemes for the Walnut’s Shopping Centre and Penge town centre.  The Local Authority continued to work with a range of private developers around the potential redevelopment of key sites across the Borough including the Klingers site.  The Council’s Executive had also met on 1^st November 2016 to agree a number of strategic property investments in Bromley Town Centre and the Walnut’s Shopping Centre which had been funded from the Growth fund and were expected to offer significant business rate growth potential as part of ongoing redevelopment plans.  The Local Authority had appointed conservation experts to produce a conservation assessment and repair report in relation to Shortlands War Memorial which had been damaged by a car accident on 8^th July 2018.

The Vice-Chairman suggested that 9^th Floor, Bromley Central Library would make an excellent restaurant, and requested that this be considered as part of the review around the longer term use of this facility.

In respect of information concerning the development of Site B: Tweedy Road in the Bromley Town Centre Area Action Plan, it was agreed that this be considered under exempt proceedings under the Part 2 (Closed) agenda.

RESOLVED that progress on the delivery of the Town Centres Development and Growth Programme be noted.