Minutes:
Hannah Jackson, LBB Head of Renewal and Stephen Oliver, LBB Project Planner attended to provide 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 Bromley Town Centre High Street Public Realm Improvement works were now mostly complete. Feature lighting on Bromley High Street was currently being installed, with completion expected by the end of October / beginning of November 2019. Once the first stage was complete, a review of the lighting would be undertaken to see if any further uplighters were needed to create more of an impact. Planning permission had been granted for two commercial units near Metro Bank. However, the tenders received back had all been over budget, so there would be a review of what work could be carried out and an update would be provided to the next meeting of the Partnership. Additional public benches had been installed between Bromley South Station and Elmcroft Road, and maintenance work to the Legible London signs was being undertaken with Transport for London (TfL). The signs were in need of updating following recent development of sites in the town centre. Remedial works were continuing on the tiles of the Churchill Theatre, which were due to be completed by spring 2020. Pavement works would then be completed once the scaffolding had been removed.
In Beckenham town centre, the public realm improvement works were mostly complete, with the last planters to be installed in November 2019. Heritage plaques were also due to be installed, the contract for which had now been awarded and the plaques were currently in production. It was hoped they would be installed before the end of the year. The Orpington town centre public realm improvements were complete, with the exception of some snagging works in relation to the fire escape at The Walnuts and the tree pits.
In Penge town centre, the first round of the shopfronts improvement scheme had been completed, and a second round was at the procurement stage. Heritage plaques were in production, and an installation date was to be confirmed. Discussions were taking place with Penge SE20 in relation to the options for alternative way finding, and the installation of new noticeboards and bins in the town centre.
In response to a question, it was agreed that following the meeting, the LBB Head of Renewal and LBB Project Planner would provide further details in relation to signage in Orpington town centre and the cycle path proposed along Kangley Bridge Road.
The Chairman advised Members that Opportunity Site G: West of the High Street was progressing, and the developers would be meeting with the LBB Chief Executive in the next few days. In relation to the Old Town Hall, developers Castleforge had recently held a public exhibition of the plans at Bromley Central Library. Proposals had included hotel rooms, flats and flexible working space. It was highlighted that this would see the refurbishment of an important building in the Borough.
The LBB Head of Renewal noted that some areas, for which updates had previously been provided to the Partnership, now came under a different department of the Council. A written update of these could be provided to Members following the meeting.
RESOLVED that the update on the town centres development programme be noted.