Agenda item

The Chairman gave an update on Town Centre Development across the Borough.

Progress was continuing across the sites that made up the Bromley Town Centre Area Action Plan.  The Council had received the judgement of the High Court following the challenge from Linden Homes/Network Rail to the number of residential units that could be accommodated on Site A: Bromley North.  The Council was required to prepare, publish, consult upon and promote a new policy for the site, and it was proposed that this be included in the forthcoming Local Plan. Officers were continuing to work with Transport for London to examine the business case underpinning a potential extension of the Docklands Light Railway to Bromley North following completion of economic and design feasibility and viability assessments of a number of options.

Site B: Tweedy Road was currently being used as a temporary compound to store materials and plant machinery relating to the public realm improvements at Bromley North Village.  This would continue for a period of two years.  With regard to Site C: the Old Town Hall, contracts had been exchanged with the Cathedral Group based on their proposal to convert the Town Hall to a hotel, conference centre and associated restaurants and bars.  Following a review of the options for Site F: Civic Centre, it had been agreed that in the short term, up to 2015, the Council would meet its accommodation needs through more efficient use of the campus site.  Ann Springman and Joseph Lancaster buildings had now been vacated, and the short term use of these buildings was being considered.

In considering Site G: West of High Street, Officers continued to work with Muse Developments on agreeing a viable scheme proposal and partnership arrangements for a mixed-use development incorporating residential, retail and community and health facilities.  Improvements to Site J: Bromley South continued.  A permanent kiss and drop off point on the Waitrose access road had been completed and the further development potential of the station site was being considered as part of the Local Plan review.  The redevelopment of Site K: Westmoreland Road Car Park was progressing in accordance with the programme plan.  The scheme was due for completion by Autumn 2015.

Planning permission for the redevelopment of Site L: Former DHSS as a mixed-use residential and office scheme had been approved by Development Control Committee on 6^th October 2013, subject to a Planning Agreement and GLA referral.  The site owners, Telereal Trillium had subsequently sold the site to the Education Funding Agency which proposed to use Site L to house a three form of entry bi-lingual (French) primary school from September 2014. 

Work was underway in East Street and Market Square as part of the planned public realm improvements to Bromley North Village which was expected to finish in Winter 2014.  A significant issue with a water main in the High Street had caused some early difficulties, and Thames Water had now commenced works to replace the water main, which was expected to take three months.   

In terms of development across the Borough, Officers were continuing to work with a new consortium that was seeking to implement a comprehensive improvement programme in the Walnuts Shopping Centre, Orpington.  Planning permission had been granted for the scheme and authority had been obtained to sell the Local Authority’s freehold interest in an area adjoining Crown Buildings which was required for the scheme.  Crown buildings had been demolished and the developer was progressing negotiations for the pre-letting of the new units.  A developer had expressed an interest in purchasing the Police Station site with a view to developing a mixed-use scheme comprising residential and a health and wellbeing centre, and Officers were advising on how this scheme might be progressed.

The Local Authority had been successful in a first round application to the Heritage Lottery Fund to develop detailed designs for The Priory to support a second round application to the Heritage Lottery Fund, and a consultation event would be held on Thursday 16^th January 2014 at The Priory.

In considering public realm improvements in Beckenham town centre, a funding bid to the Transport for London Area Based Programme had been successful and initial design funding had been provided to support the development of a scheme.  A full range of short term improvement projects had also been approved by the Beckenham and West Wickham Town Centres Working Party on 7^th February 2013, and the Beckenham Town Team continued to work closely with Officers on developing the programme of improvements.

Mark Henderson, MSE UK was concerned at the loss of industrial space in the Borough, particularly for larger businesses and requested that further information on development of former industrial sites in the area around Worsley Bridge Road be provided to the next meeting of the Bromley Economic Partnership.

RESOLVED that the update be noted.