Agenda item

Report DRR16/038

Members received an update on progress made in delivering individual projects for the Town Centres Development Programme.

The Head of Renewal confirmed that despite the imminent change of the London Mayor, the current Mayor had made a delegated decision to designate Bromley Town Centre a Housing Zone.  This would now be subject to ratification of relevant agreements between the Council and the GLA.

In order to provide wider frontage to the site, the red line boundary of the first phase redevelopment of Site G: West of the High Street, had been extended to include unit No.102 High Street, located adjacent to the Halifax Building Society.  Members agreed that whilst the amendment to the red line boundary was a minor one, this matter should have initially been brought to PDS Members for scrutiny before being considered by the Executive.  It was requested that this be done in future.

The site would formally go out to market in late April with formal selection of the Development Partner being concluded by November 2016. 

Various updates on Site G would be reported throughout the year.

Referring to Bromley Central Area High Street Improvements, the Head of Renewal confirmed to Members that the detailed design project was on-going with anticipated completion by September 2016.  Updates on this would be submitted to future meetings of the Committee when available.  The Chairman requested that the Head of Renewal ensure that all future updating reports be submitted as agreed.

The reason for meeting with Kingston First was to look at their process for improvements/relocation and the possibility of applying such process to Bromley’s scheme design which would be submitted for consideration by PDS Members in September.

In regard to the Beckenham Town Centre Improvements and the business case application submitted to Transport for London (TfL), it was reported that TfL had indicated the Council should be more ambitious.  The Council’s Business Officer would be meeting with TfL to discuss the case.  Funding would be £4.6m in total with £1.3m provided from Bromley’s Capital Funds and Section 106 monies.  The remainder of around £3m would be provided by TfL.

The scheme would need to take account of the fact that Beckenham High Street had been designated as a Conservation Area.

Discussions with Network Rail about proposed improvements to Beckenham Junction Station were still on-going.  Network Rail had informed the Council that the proposals were subject to the Hendy Review which was currently considering rail infrastructure upgrades.  However, the Council’s current budget was not dependent upon the contributions from Network Rail.

The Minutes of the Beckenham Town Centre Working Group held on 17 March 2016 were circulated to Members and a copy is attached as Appendix B to these Minutes.

A report on the completed design for College Square, Orpington, would be submitted for scrutiny at a future meeting of the PDS Committee.  Designs for the proposed terrace alongside the new restaurant would be submitted to the July meeting of the PDS Committee.

It was reported that in addition to the proposals for improvements to Empire and Arpley Squares in Penge High Street, officers had engaged with stakeholders to look at possible improvements to key zones along the High Street. 

Officers were currently working with traders on ways to improve shop fronts and signage.

A report on the full review of the Growth Projects in the Cray Corridor and Biggin Hill will be reported to a future meeting of the PDS Committee.

RESOLVED that progress made on the delivery of the Town Centres Development Programme be noted.