Agenda item

Bromley Town Ward

Report DRR17/058

At its meeting on 22 March 2017 the Executive had approved the detailed designs and costing for the next phase of the Bromley Town Centre improvements, which were currently being implemented.  Officers were requested to bring back for Executive approval the detailed designs and costing for the proposed market kiosks. The Executive had also approved plans to re-organise, rebrand and relocate the existing market as part of the improvement works.  The report provided an update on progress to date.

The report had been scrutinised by the Renewal and Recreation PDS Committee on 1^st November 2017. The Committee had not been satisfied with the level of consultation, suggesting some changes to the terms of reference of the Bromley Market Consultative Panel and requiring a further report to their Committee in January, and proposed some changes to the recommendations, which the Executive accepted. The Portfolio Holder for Renewal and Recreation reported that to ensure that shoppers were aware of the shops he would ensure that the stalls were set out in a single line, rather than in two lines. He also confirmed that the Council would be applying for planning consent for the newly located market with the same number of stalls as the present market.

It was confirmed that the market stalls had a lifecycle of 25 years and were intended to be clad with wood. A fire retardant treatment would be applied - the Portfolio Holder assured members that he would check this. The kiosks were anticipated to generate an annual income of £100k, based on full occupancy. They would be let on a full repairing and insurance basis, and to reduce risk the Council’s specialist market advisors Quarterbridge had suggested that they be prelet. Discussions were on-going about street cleaning and any potential additional costs. Questioned about why the Council was investing its own money rather than leaving it to private investors, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that a return on investment of around 20% could be anticipated, and the Council could keep control of the units which would be in a prime location for the town centre. 

RESOLVED that

(1) It is agreed that £580k is allocated from the Growth Fund to meet the costs and is added to the Bromley High Street Improvement capital scheme.

(2) Authority be delegated to the Director of Regeneration and the Portfolio Holder for Renewal & Recreation to approve any minor amendments to the kiosk design and market layout.

(3) Authority be given to submit a planning application(s) for the development of the relocated market and market infrastructure, including kiosks.

(4) The allocation of additional S106 funding of £152k for a programme of architectural lighting improvements be authorised and added to the Bromley High Street Improvement capital scheme.

(5) It is noted that there will be an overall increase of £732k for the Bromley High Street Improvement scheme within the Capital Programme, resulting in a total scheme cost of £3.576m.

(6) The progress to date on implementing the agreed option for relocating, reorganising and relaunching the weekly market in Bromley, as outlined in paragraphs 3.11 - 3.17 of the report, be noted.