Agenda item

The Head of Town Centre Renewal 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. 

With regard to Site C: the Old Town Hall, Cathedral was required under the agreement for lease to submit their planning application shortly.  The grant of the long lease was conditional on the Group obtaining planning permission to convert the Town Hall to a hotel, conference centre and associated restaurants.  Surveys had been carried out and a formal pre-application meeting had taken place with the Council’s Development Control section.  Work was progressing on the development of the scheme following advice from the Local Authority and English Heritage.  The applicant had also agreed to the Local Authority’s request to undergo a Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) design review.  Cathedral aimed to open the hotel and conference centre in Spring 2016.

Work had now been completed in East Street, White Hart Slip, Naval Walk and the pedestrianised area of Market Square as part of the planned public realm improvements to Bromley North Village.  The Thames Water main replacement works were also complete.  Following an extension of onsite working hours during the summer, the full programme of public realm improvements was expected to be completed by 30^th November 2014.  It had been agreed to add a section of Widmore Road to the public realm improvement scheme and works would commence in early 2015.

In terms of development across the Borough, a revised scheme by Miller Development for the Walnuts Shopping Centre had been approved at Plans Sub-Committee No.1 on 5^th June 2014.  The revised scheme was now under construction and would provide a seven screen cinema, three retail units, three restaurant units, a gym and the creation of a new square with landscaping.  The build was scheduled for completion in Spring 2015.  Berkeley Homes was preparing to submit a planning application for a new Wellness Centre and a residential scheme on the Old Police Station site. 

Following the successful funding bid to the Transport for London Major Scheme Allocation fund for 2014/15 to develop the Beckenham Town Centre scheme, the Design and Development phase was on schedule with the outline design expected to be agreed by the end of 2014.  The design and development of the scheme was being undertaken through Beckenham Town Centre Working Group and Beckenham Town Centre Team, as well as through wider community consultation with residents, local businesses, community groups and other stakeholders. 

The Local Authority had submitted its proposals to the London Enterprise Panel for the New Homes Bonus to fund projects across the Borough totalling £1.928m for 2014/15 which were based around the seven London Enterprise Partnership priorities.  The priorities comprised apprenticeships, skills and training, high streets, places of work, unlocking development, business support, digital, creative and science and technology, and reliance and low carbon.  The Local Authority was seeking to fund projects for Penge Town Centre/Crystal Palace, place making at the Walnuts Centre and Orpington business enabling and support, Biggin Hill Aviation Technology and Enterprise Centre and Lagoon Road Industrial Estate redevelopment.

Small business and community groups on London’s high streets were being encouraged to apply for a share of a new £9m fund from the Mayor of London to help revitalise high streets.  The High Street Fund aimed to support ideas for new activities for high streets, such as shop front and public space improvements and festivals, and members of the Partnership were encouraged to apply to the fund, which would require match-funding.  Further information on the new fund would be provided to members of the Partnership following the meeting.

RESOLVED that the update be noted.