Agenda item

The Head of Renewal gave an update around Town Centre Development across the Borough.

Progress was continuing across the sites that made up the Bromley Town Centre Area Action Plan, and a development plan had now been prepared.  Following a competitive tendering process CB Richard Ellis had been selected as the Council’s development advisor in relation to Site G and it was hoped that a development partner would be in place by autumn 2011.

The challenge lodged by Linden Homes/Network Rail in relation to Site A: Bromley North would be heard before the High Court at the end of October 2011.  Work had commenced on the refurbishment of Site E: The Pavilion and would be completed in March 2012.

With regards to the other sites across Bromley Town Centre, further work was being undertaken at Site B: Tweedy Road seeking to develop a temporary parking area during the refurbishment of The Hill and the redevelopment of Westmoreland Multi-Storey Car Parks.  The Land Group had been selected as the Council’s development partner in relation to Site C: the Old Town Hall site, and it was anticipated that proposals for development of the site would be submitted to the Council in August 2011.

Following a review of options at Site F: Civic Centre, refurbishment of the North Block was currently being undertaken to support more efficient use of the campus site and would be completed by January 2012.  Preliminary scope of work and delivery programme for the refurbishment of Site J: Bromley South to include step free access had now been agreed with Network Rail.  It was anticipated that the improvement works would commence by September 2011, with step free access being implemented by the end of March 2012.

Cathedral Group, the Council’s development partner for Site K: Westmoreland Road Car Park had recently hosted a car park cinema on site over a four day period.  It was anticipated that a planning application for Site K would be submitted to the Council in September 2011.  A scheme outline for a mixed use, hotel-led development had already been submitted by agents in respect of Site L: Former DHSS, and it was anticipated that the site owners would submit a planning application before September 2011.

An area based bid to Transport for London, as part of the Mayor’s ‘Great Spaces’ initiative, had been successful in providing access to £300k for detailed design work in respect of Bromley North Village.  A further allocation of £3m had been made available by Transport for London to implement improvements to the public realm in line with the distinctive character of the area.  A provisional bid of £1.5m had been made to the Council’s Capital Programme 2012/12 in support of this project, which was still subject to confirmation, and further public consultation on the detailed designs would take place in October 2011, with first phase implementation on works to commence by early summer 2012.

The Outer London Fund, a three year initiative dedicated to supporting the vibrancy and growth of high streets, had recently been launched and would be allocated in two rounds.  The first would provide funding for immediate measures such as promotion, events and marketing, and the second would make funds available for capital works.  The Council was currently developing a bid for the Borough, and it was hoped that funding would be granted towards improved wayfinding and signage in Bromley as well as public realm improvements across Beckenham, Penge and West Wickham Town Centres

In terms of development across the Borough, two key opportunity sites had been identified in the Walnuts shopping complex in Orpington Town Centre, and a development brief was being developed.  The Principal and Chief Executive of Orpington College highlighted the importance of involving Orpington College in any consultation around proposed development in the area.

The first phase of environmental improvements had been successfully implemented as part of the Penge Renewal Strategy.  It was proposed to hold a stakeholder workshop to develop a long term renewal strategy for Penge in Autumn 2011.

RESOLVED that the update be noted.