Issue - meetings

Orpington ward

Report HPR2021/061

To provide officers with a steer in relation to Members’ preferred option for the provision of leisure as part of the Areli/Tikehau Capital development proposals at the Walnuts Shopping Centre in Orpington.

The report had been scrutinised by the Renewal, Recreation and Housing PDS Committee on 16 November 2021 and the Committee supported the recommendations.

RESOLVED that the report be noted and feedback on the preferred option for the provision of leisure as part of the Areli/Tikehau Capital development proposals on an ‘in principal decision’ pending in the future be set out in part 2.

Orpington ward

The Executive considered part 2 details relating to the leisure options for the proposed scheme.

The Committee considered options for the provision of leisure facilities as part of the proposed re-development of the Walnuts centre.

Report HPR2021/061b

The Committee considered a report requesting Members to give a steer in relation to their preferred option for the provision of leisure as part of the Areli/Tikehau Capital development proposals at the Walnuts Shopping Centre in Orpington. Further details of the options available, including financial details, were set out in a part 2 report. The Chairman emphasised that Members were being asked to give a view on leisure centre facilities, and not on town planning matters that were the responsibility of the Development Control Committee.

The Renewal, Recreation and Housing Portfolio Holder gave a brief introduction to the proposals. The current shopping centre was not doing well, with a large number of empty units and poor public realm. At the same time, the leisure centre was reaching the end of its useful life and required substantial investment. The developer’s proposals represented an opportunity to address these issues and bring life to the town centre.

Officers explained that the leisure facilities would not be reproduced exactly – for example, less room would be needed for plant and infrastructure, and any replacement swimming pool would be 25m rather than the current 33m, in line with Sport England Guidance. Adult Social Care had been closely involved in the design of the replacement facilities for the Saxon Day Centre – the key was designing usable spaces for the next few decades, not just overall size. It was confirmed that 50% affordable housing would be required on Council owned land. On the remaining land, Planning would require Areli to be policy compliant in relation to affordable housing unless an accepted viability assessment was submitted as part of the planning application. It would not be possible in policy terms to accept the replacement leisure centre in lieu of affordable housing.

The Chairman invited Councillors Pauline Tunnicliffe and Kim Botting to speak as Orpington ward councillors. Both supported the scheme in principle, and viewed it as an exciting opportunity for Orpington that would provide residential opportunities, enhanced retail and replacement day centre and leisure facilities in high quality buildings.

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.