Agenda item

Kevin Munnelly, LBB Head of Town Centre Planning Projects

Marc Hume reported on progress across the town centre development sites. He stated that although there was plenty of vision, what was needed, and what he thought Bromley had, was a sense of momentum and confidence to meet the challenge from Croydon and elsewhere.

Site A: Bromley North. Lord Justice Binning’s judgement on 20^th December 2012 quashed Policy OSA and directed the Council to review the policy. This was an opportunity to develop a business case and lobby for a DLR extension in the run-up to the mayoral election in May. It was agreed by the Partnership that this should be a major economic development priority for the borough. 

Site B: Tweedy Road. Work was being carried out to test the viability of using the site as a temporary car park – TfL would only support the proposal with sound traffic modelling data. The Chairman added that a variable message system for town centre parking was due to be installed later in the year.

Site C: Town Hall. The exclusivity agreement with the Land Group/Cathedral had been extended for up to six months. 

Site E: The Pavilion. The £5m investment programme was on target, and work should be finished in the next few months.

Site F: Civic Centre. Refurbishment of the North Block should be completed by April, allowing the Joseph Lancaster and Anne Springman blocks to be emptied.

Site G: West of the High Street. Officers would be meeting with potential developers in the next 4-6 weeks to obtain their views, modify the scheme as necessary and then move on to securing a development partner. The scheme would still be retail-led, and a document would be circulated later in the month, including to members of the partnership. Work was also being carried out to investigate the possibilities for refurbishing the Churchill Theatre/Central Library in conjunction with this site.

Site J: Bromley South. Officers were discussing with Network Rail whether a more long-term redevelopment above the station would be possible following the withdrawal of the previous developers.

Site K: Westmoreland Car Park. The planning application was due to go to Development Control Committee on 3^rd April 2012.

Site L: Former DHSS Building. Trillium Real had indicated that they would be submitting an application for a hotel/residential scheme. The policy requirement for the site was replacement office space.

Site M: Queen’s Gardens. A full planning application for five restaurants had been submitted by Capital Shopping Centres in December 2011; this was due to be considered by Development Control Committee on 14^th February 2012. The application was controversial because of the impact on the gardens.

Bromley North Village. Funding of £3m had been allocated by TfL, subject to the Council meeting certain design requirements, and the Council would be contributing £1.5m. The majority of the comments received during the public consultation had been positive. Officers were also in discussion with Sainsbury’s about their options for expansion. 

Orpington Town Centre. Officers were in discussion with the new owners, Miller Properties, about the possibilities for development, particularly on the former DHSS site.