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Invest Bromley

Investment opportunities in the London Borough of Bromley

Invest Bromley Issue 3 Autumn 2014

Trading place Opportunities galore for investors and developers Bromley North: cafe culture comes to town Quality streets â&#x20AC;&#x201C; upping the stakes in retail

issue 3 autumn 2014

intu continues to invest in By Marc Myers, General Manager at intu

Bromley

Bromley’s central shopping and leisure centre, intu Bromley, has been attracting visitors in droves since 1991. Our central location and the array of retail opportunities we offer has positioned intu Bromley as the major player in Bromley’s shopping economy; linking to the High Street and close to both train stations serving London and the South-East, the centre plays an integral role in the town’s pedestrian flow pattern.

Centre Refresh Since a brand refresh last year which has included the introduction of free Wi-Fi and the launch of our retail website, intu Bromley has even bigger and better plans for investment in Bromley – our aim is to ensure that the centre offers the borough something for everyone as a vibrant place to live, work, socialise and shop retaining a metropolitan feel. We are busy refreshing the malls to create an improved shopping experience for our customers and retailers. The buildings are benefitting from a fresh colour palette and we have been adding personality to shoppers’ experiences

through cheerful and friendly signage. Free Wi-Fi throughout the centre has been connecting customers to the new-look mall, and new cladding is being added to escalators and lifts. We are proud to have expanded our retail offering over the past couple of years, giving our customers a wider range of choice. Technology giant Apple came to intu Bromley in 2012 and the opening of outlets such as The White Company has attracted a greater proportion of well-heeled shoppers and middle income family groups – groups that are already represented in Bromley’s highly affluent catchment of 1.3 million.

Visions of the future: intu Bromley has exciting plans for the centre’s development, including an

More than just a mall Bromley is one of 12 ‘Metropolitan Centres’ within the London Plan – a statutory spatial development strategy for Greater London – reflecting Bromley’s popularity as a significant commercial and retail district outside central London. To ensure that the demand for leisure and catering facilities in Bromley is met, the Council is working in partnership with intu Bromley to build a £24 million investment to create an exciting new development in and around the centre. exciting leisure development (above and below) and a restaurant terrace alongside Queen’s Garden (top right)

Part of this investment is a new restaurant terrace alongside Queen’s Garden, built to create a vibrant, familyfriendly dining area of cosmopolitan eateries over-looking the park. Completion is expected during 2015, when this development will lengthen the trading day for parts of the lower mall and create a large number of casual dining establishments that will be linked to the centre. As well as creating many permanent jobs, the Queen’s Garden terrace development will bring families and locals into the town centre at night, contributing to Bromley’s blossoming economy and giving the town the catering and leisure services it needs. In July, we were also given the go ahead to develop a boutique cinema, which will join exciting new retailers and eateries such as Carluccios’ Italian restaurant which opened this summer. Completion of the luxurious, 220 seat, five-screen cinema with waiter service is scheduled for 2017 and it will enable intu Bromley to rapidly strengthen its position as the town’s number one social and retail hub.

Part of the community These days, shoppers expect far more from their shopping centres than just the shops themselves. The journey they take in making a purchase is more complex than ever before, and we are committed to ensuring intu Bromley offers the highest quality establishments where customers of all ages can meet, eat, drink, socialise and shop. Whether we’re holding activities for children to take the pressure off parents in school holidays, ‘Mummy Monday’ coffee mornings or sports activities in partnership with our sports retailer Reebok, we offer the experiences and the technology to keep in touch and connected to our customers, and are determined to remain at the heart of Bromley’s community. For more information on our developments, visit www.intu.co.uk/bromley

A NEW URBAN LIFESTYLE QUARTER FOR BROMLEY IS ARRIVING 2015 A new vibrant public square with 200 luxury apartments, 8 restaurants including Las Iguanas, Nando’s, Prezzo, Turtle Bay and Dean’s Diner, a 9 screen multiplex Vue cinema, 130 bed Premier Inn hotel, a 300 space public car park and all 2 minutes from the train station.

STMARKSSQUARE.CO.UK For residential enquiries please contact JDM New Homes on 0208 325 8000

06 news

32 Town Centre

A round-up of Bromley’s latest developments and initiatives.

Bromley is undergoing a retail renaissance.

10 quality of life

34 housing

Bromley’s largest shopping centre is aiming to be much more than just a retail destination.

Modern living quarters are tranforming the borough.

16 Connectivity

Business confidence at the airport is at an all-time high.

P roposals are afoot to extend four new transport lines to the borough.

19 key objectives

The council’s decision-makers explain how the borough is delivering on its new London Plan designation.

38 biggin hill

44 markets Facts and figures on London’s biggest borough.

46 Sitematch Bromley’s head of renewal explains how the borough has benefited.

22 Projects In Orpington, Beckenham and Crystal Palace – the opportunities in Bromley are abundant.

28 Outer London fund With over £5 million of grant funding allocated to it, the borough’s renewal strategy is paying dividends.

Editorial director: Siobhán Crozier Editor: Maria Shahid Chief reporter: James Wood Head of design: Rachael Schofield Design: Katrin Smejkal Production assistant: Chris Hazeldine Business development manager: Chris Joyce Divisional director of business development: Paul Gussar Subscriptions manager: Simon Maxwell

Contents Issue 3 Winter 2014

Office manager: Sue Mapara Managing director: Toby Fox Printed by: Bishops Printers Images: PrivateFly, intu, Cathedral Group, Essential Land, Biggin Hill, Bromley College, UTC, HEMA, Carluccio’s, Miller Developments, Reebok, Broxap Ltd: www.broxap.com, Transport for London, East Architects, London Borough of Bromley, EPR Architects, ZhongRong, Andy Barker Photography, Crest Nicholson, Castle Air

People’s attitudes and perceptions about the town centre have changed completely Kevin Munnelly Bromley Council’s head of renewal

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contents 05

News

Restaurants snap up space at St Mark’s More occupiers have signed for space at Cathedral Group’s £90 million mixed-use development, St Mark’s Square in Bromley town centre. The 1950’s classic American Dean’s Diner, which is part of the Richoux group of restaurants, is the most recent occupier to join chains including Las Iguanas, Nando’s, Prezzo and Turtle Bay at the

scheme and will all together form 2,322sq m of cafe and restaurant space. The outlets are scheduled to open in autumn 2015 when the development is complete. Richard Upton, chief executive of Cathedral Group, said: “We are confident that Dean’s Diner will prove popular. We want St Mark’s Square to offer the very

Bromley tops poll for small business Bromley has been named one of the most attractive boroughs for small businesses in London to operate in. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) published an index of the worst and best places to do business across the capital, based on a survey of 200 FSB members from across the 33 London boroughs, and found Bromley topped

06 invest bromley winter 2014

the index of best places to operate in by providing “the least burdensome environment”. Transport and broadband were considered important factors for running a business. Of participating companies, 84% said broadband quality and availability is significant, while 79% rated the “quality and availability” of public transport.

best in entertainment, including dining, so people of all ages will have places to meet up and spend time in the town centre throughout the day and evening.” Other features of the scheme include a nine-screen multiplex Vue cinema, a 130-bedroom Premier Inn, 200 private and affordable apartments, a 400-space secure car park and a landscaped public square.

Ringers Road regeneration begins Construction work is well under way on developer Crest Nicholson’s Regent’s Place scheme in Ringers Road. The project includes building 160 one, two and three-bedroom apartments, 53 of which will be marketed as affordable. Marketing of homes at the site will begin during November 2014.

progress at langley court Demolition work is complete at Langley Court in Beckenham, where full planning permission, in outline, is in place for 179 homes, a surgery and a sports academy. The developer, Essential Land, has now submitted two reserved matters planning applications for the former GlaxoSmithKline site on South Eden Park Road. This will provide design details of roads and initial phases of new homes.

The £150 million regeneration scheme will also include a “landscaped village green” with a bandstand, green space along the River Beck, a children’s play area, as well as new pedestrian and cycle paths. The houses will be of varying sizes and tenures, and will include 79 units that will be marketed as affordable. The houses will be available from 2015.

Airport jobs pledge

Bromley’s Biggin Hill Airport has pledged to put in place the conditions for 2,300 new jobs to be created over the next 15 years. To achieve this, the airport has set out plans for growth as part of the London Centre for Aviation Technology and Enterprise partnership (LoCATE) and will continue to develop its business aviation programme. It plans to build more hangars and offices to attract new companies to the airport, develop a training college, build a hotel for flight crew and extend its opening hours. As part of this, there is also a proposal to focus on supporting incubators and accelerators by providing flexible business space for small enterprises on part of the West Camp Estate site.

Hungry for success Biggin Hill is currently home to 65 companies, which support more than 1,000 jobs, from aircraft technicians to firefighters and administrators. Will Curtis, managing director of Biggin Hill Airport, said: “There is increasing pressure on the government to find more airport capacity in the southeast and smaller airports are at risk of being used to fill the gaps. “We argue that Biggin Hill should continue as a small airport, focused on business and general aviation and should not be used for scheduled and holiday charter airline services. Local residents have been clear with me that they don’t want that, and nor do we. We want to be a small, specialist, business and general aviation airport for London. “I believe that the choice is between deciding our own future now – or letting others do it later. We need to make better use of our facilities if we are to secure Biggin Hill’s future.” Curtis also said Biggin Hill will reduce the level of noise for residents living under the flight path by 50%. “Before making any proposals to the council, we want to hear what local people think,” he added. “It is important that we all think carefully about this. If, as a community, we do not make a decision to go with business aviation, then we may find we are eventually forced by government to take some overspill scheduled traffic.”

A hospitality, food and enterprise centre opened on the Orpington Campus at Bromley College in September 2014. It features kitchens, classrooms, a student-run restaurant and conference facilities. The kitchen was officially opened in October by celebrity chefs, Chris and James Tanner. The restaurant is scheduled to open in January 2015. Students aged between 14 and 19 will use the facility to train for vocational hospitality and catering qualifications. Around 100 pupils have joined the college initially, with the aim to create places for up to 5,000 by year four. Principal of Bromley College, Sam Parrett, said: “Our new hospitality training facilities will provide a hugely valuable resource for our students.”

NEWS 07

UTC gets green light The government has given Bromley College of Further and Higher Education approval to open a university technical college (UTC) in the borough in 2016. It is one of seven UTCs to be given government approval in 2014 and is a “new type of secondary school”, which will provide training in health and wellbeing sciences to equip young people with the skills to boost their employability. The development of the facility is a joint venture between the college, Canterbury Christ Church University and King’s College Hospital. Sam Parrett, principal of Bromley College, said: “We are delighted that our application to open a new UTC in Bromley has been approved. Our vision is to provide outstanding vocational education.”

North Village work nears completion

New occupiers at intu Bromley Fashion retailer Monsoon and Australian stationery retailer Smiggle are the latest brands to sign for space at the intu Bromley shopping centre. Monsoon will join its sister company, Accessorize, at the shopping centre, taking 380sq m of space opposite the jewellers Fraser Hart, and Smiggle will take 102sq m opposite H&M. They join other retailers which have recently moved to the shopping centre 08 invest bromley winter 2014

including jewellers Thomas Sabo, fashion brand White Stuff and the Italian gourmet eatery, Carluccio’s. Rebecca Ryman, regional director for the intu shopping centre, said: “Intu Bromley is a magnet for aspirational shoppers throughout south London and Kent. The attraction of new international brands and the upsizing of an existing retailer is proof of how robust Bromley is as a retail destination.”

Bromley Council has entered the next phase of work to improve Bromley North Village, with the £5.5 million scheme scheduled for completion in time for the Christmas trading rush. The next stage will be to renovate the public realm linking the junction of Widmore Road with the market square. Improvements to East Street are now complete, including the installation of new granite paving, lamp columns, trees and outdoor seating. Work is continuing on the pedestrianised area of Market Square and Bromley North High Street.

The leisure dome

With a boutique five-screen cinema, alfresco dining, and fitness classes on tap, big plans are afoot to turn Bromley into a retail and leisure destination like no other. Suruchi Sharma reports

The aim is to create an experience that is not just about shopping but provides a complete, familyfriendly day out Monty Python certainly put Bromley

An illustrative section of Regent Arcade at intu Bromley.

on the map in a famous sketch featuring its Green Midget Cafe. Fortunately for Bromley, comedy is not a true marker of history, and the town is known for far more nowadays. Historically a prosperous market town in the county of Kent, Bromley became part of Greater London in 1965, and has swiftly moved on to become one of the most important areas of suburban growth in the 20th century. Sitting pretty on the cusp of south-east London, Bromley is known for its thriving commercial and retail sectors, and entices commuters and shoppers alike. At the heart of the town is intu Bromley (pictured), previously known as The Glades shopping centre, which in March revealed multimillion pound plans to expand. The centre currently has 135 outlets that range from big name department stores, including Marks and Spencer and Debenhams, to high QUALITY OF LIFE 11

“Intu’s ethos is to get shoppers to do more than just shop, and it is this unique approach that literally keeps shoppers on their toes”

01 Dutch retailer Hema chose to open one of its first UK stores at intu Bromley. 02 Restaurant chain Carluccio’s is another welcome addition to the shopping centre. 12 invest bromley winter 2014

street staples such as Waterstones and Superdrug. A £24 million investment in the centre will see a luxury five-screen cinema on the centre’s roof, with food by waiter service. A restaurant terrace for alfresco dining is also pencilled in for completion in 2015, and will be constructed alongside the pretty Queen’s Gardens area. Intu Bromley’s general manager Marc Myers explains that the aim is to create an experience that is not just about shopping but provides a complete, family-friendly day out: “It is very exciting to lead the team through the next stages of development for our centre. We are aiming to add the leisure element, including great places to eat, alongside an exciting programme of events planned by my marketing team. The Queen’s Garden terrace development will allow the gardens to be enjoyed by more of our shoppers, and the boutique cinema will be a welcome addition that will create a unique experience for those who visit. It will be very different to more traditional multiplex cinemas allowing customers to watch films and enjoy a meal and a drink at their very comfortable seats.” A raft of new shops has also opened at intu in the last year, including Dutch store, Hema, footwear and apparel retailer, Reebok, and restaurant chain, Carluccio’s. Simon Kossoff is chief executive at Carluccio’s and is very excited about the new restaurant branch that opened in August: “This was an obvious choice for us due to the existing tenants and huge improvements intu Bromley is making to the look and feel of this popular shopping centre.” New companies are clearly enticed by the large group of big brand occupiers including Zara, Massimo Dutti and Kurt Geiger. Another indicator of the growing attraction the shopping centre holds was when Dutch retailer, Hema, chose to open one of its first UK stores at intu Bromley in July. Hema’s Bromley store manager Mercedes Rodriguez had confidence that the shop would be a success from day one, adding: “Customers have responded very enthusiastically. Hema is a great addition to intu Bromley, as you can find such a variety and range of products all under one roof. There is nothing quite like it in Bromley at the moment.”

Follow thy neighbour: Orpington 1st Bromley will hopefully follow the positive route taken by the business community in Orpington, which became the first Business Improvement District (BID) in the borough in April 2013. The BID, known as Orpington 1st, will invest nearly £1 million in its initial five-year term into projects as diverse as policing, environmental improvements and business support. Its aim is to build a vibrant and viable town centre, that reflects the needs and aspirations of its business and resident community, and encourage inward investment. The high street has already seen a rise of 16% in footfall year on year and this is ahead of the major new developments planned for the area. Sharon Baldwin is BID operations director for Orpington 1st and has a clear view of what is necessary to help Orpington grow into an even more popular shopping destination: “We need to attract a broader retail offer that reflects our customer profile and also complements our strong restaurant and cafe offer, with new food markets and an exciting events programme.” The BID is confident that the new seven-screen cinema and retail development at the heart of the town centre at the Walnuts Shopping Centre will increase footfall and strengthen the important leisure element. “The development of the Odeon cinema is an exciting addition to our town

centre, strengthening our leisure offer and helping us to attract further retail and restaurant investment,” explains Baldwin. The last cinema in Orpington, the Commodore, shut down in 1982 and was replaced by fast food giant McDonalds, forcing film-lovers to travel to Bromley, Bexleyheath, or as far as Bluewater Shopping Centre in Kent. The new Odeon cinema is set to be built by summer 2015. Baldwin adds that this is just one part of a major redevelopment programme in the heart of the high street, which also includes the new BR6 restaurant at the Orpington campus of Bromley College, and the building of the town’s first hotel, a Premier Inn. Berkeley Homes has also finalised the purchase of a site in College Square. The housing development on the site of the former police station will include a health centre, and will bring new customers right into the heart of Orpington town centre. With a background in buying for large companies such as Marks and Spencer, Baldwin clearly relishes the challenges ahead: “High streets are going through a period of great change due to the way in which businesses sell their goods and services and the way customers want to access them. It is really exciting to see the opportunities these changes are bringing to businesses and residents – and the way in which Orpington town centre is rising to the challenge – it really is opportunity Orpington!” 03 A brand new Odeon is due to open in the heart of Orpington town centre at the Walnuts – the town’s first cinema in nearly three decades.

QUALITY OF LIFE 13

14 invest bromley AUTUMN 2014

14 invest bromley winter 2014

Intu’s ethos is to get customers to do more than just shop, and it is this unique approach that, literally, keeps shoppers on their toes, with stores such as Bromley Reebok FitHub providing free fitness classes for the general public. The store’s assistant manager Naomi Sabah says: “Reebok FitHub has been open for nearly a year now at intu Bromley, and being situated here has, so far, been a resounding success. “We are all about getting people moving and the centre provides us with a gateway to Bromley as a whole.” And intu isn’t the only shopping haven in Bromley. The revamped Bromley North Village features a number of boutique and independent shops, which have most recently benefited from a revamp, following a shop front improvement scheme that has already caused a buzz among locals. As more businesses join the centre, a crucial task on Marc Myers’ plate is to make Bromley into a Business Improvement District (BID), where shops and restaurants are encouraged to provide an additional tax that is reinvested into the area.

Myers recently resigned from a position he held for eight years, as chair of Ilford’s successful BID, to focus on Bromley and is pleased at the support it has so far received. He says: “There is an absolute need to have a BID in Bromley. I believe this is recognised by many businesses and I’m delighted to say, the local authority too. “We have a group of 12 businesses from a proposed BID area already working towards a ballot [to decide whether to have a BID] in October next year.” As Myers approaches his first anniversary in the job, he is clearly eager about the future: “As a general manager you yearn to be able to develop your shopping centre and I am in a privileged position to work for a business that is investing in my centre and the town.”

04 Bromley Reebok FitHub has been open for nearly a year at intu Bromley shopping centre, and is all about getting people moving. 05 Carluccio’s is known for its authentic Italian produce.

Better connected TfL’s proposals to extend the Overground, Underground, DLR and Tramlink to Bromley have the potential to make a big impact on the borough. James Cracknell reports

With 26 stations, Bromley is well-

connected on the National Rail network. A journey from Bromley South to London Victoria can take just 16 minutes. Now Transport for London (TfL) has plans to impact on Bromley’s rail map, with extensions to the borough proposed for no less than four different lines. Talks are at an early stage but TfL is considering options for London Overground, Docklands Light Railway (DLR), Tramlink and the Bakerloo line. New stations and train lines, in whatever form, promise a boost for jobs and businesses in the areas they serve, making them more attractive for investment. Bromley already benefits from Tramlink and Overground stations, but work is progressing on bringing both routes further into the borough, with the latter seen as a cheaper alternative to a proposed DLR extension. Connecting Bromley North station to either the Overground or DLR lines would provide a link with the major employment centre at Canary Wharf. A TfL spokesperson explains: “TfL has worked with Bromley and Lewisham councils to look at extending London Overground services from New Cross to Bromley North, which could improve journey times between Bromley town centre and the Isle of Dogs.

01 16 invest bromley winter 2014

01 A train from Bromley South station to London Victoria can take just 16 minutes. MAP, OPPOSITE The proposed extension of the Bakerloo line based on a map by TfL, with stations in Bromley highlighted in black.

Waterloo Lambeth North

“A journey from Bromley South to London Victoria can take just 16 minutes” “Further work is now needed to understand more about the deliverability and costs of the scheme.” Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, has committed to improving tube connections in south London, publishing a long-term plan for transport infrastructure in the summer. It included a map of Bakerloo line options, made public for the first time. If this extension does come to fruition it could finally put Bromley on the London Underground map. The link could provide a direct connection between Beckenham Junction and Bromley North stations, providing regular tube services to Lewisham, Old Kent Road and Elephant and Castle. A spokesperson for Johnson says: “The mayor believes south London deserves greater investment in transport infrastructure, and is exploring the possibility of extending the Bakerloo line. Where it is extended to – and its exact alignment – depends on the outcome of discussions with the relevant boroughs and consultation with local people.” At the end of September, TfL launched an initial consultation on a possible extension of the Bakerloo line from Elephant and Castle to Hayes via New Cross Gate and Lewisham. “This consultation focuses on understanding the level of public support for the principle of extending the line and provides an opportunity for people to comment on potential routes for the extension,” explains a TfL spokesperson. “So far, we have identified two options for alignments and stations between Elephant and Castle and Lewisham: one serving Old Kent Road and the other via Camberwell and Peckham. Beyond this, the extension could connect with the existing rail line to Hayes,

Elephant & Castle

Old KentOld Kent Road 1 Old Kent Road 2 New Cross Gate

Camberwell

Lewisham

Peckham Rye

Ladywell Catford Bridge

Lower Sydenham New Beckenham

Beckenham Junction

Clock House Elmers End

which would mean current rail services would no longer operate, but the Bakerloo line would operate instead. There is also an option to extend the line to Beckenham Junction for connections to Tramlink and Bromley town centre.” A Tramlink extension between Crystal Palace and Harrington Road, meanwhile, would improve connectivity near the western border of the borough. Passengers would be able to travel between Crystal Palace Park and South Norwood Country Park in just a few minutes. Bromley Council’s Colin Smith, executive councillor for environment, says: “We are encouraging residents and stakeholders to respond to TfL’s consultation, which we will be watching with interest. The Bakerloo proposal is neither the council’s first or second option. The DLR to Bromley North and Tramlink to Crystal Palace extensions are the preferred solutions, for which we have been lobbying for a number of years. We have reservations over the extent of the Bakerloo proposal given its cost and intention to remove direct links to Charing

Proposed extension to Bromley town centre

Eden Park

West Wickham

Hayes

Cross, Cannon Street and London Bridge for a portion of the borough’s population.” Funding sources are now being sought for the Crystal Palace Tramlink route, says TfL’s spokesperson: “In conjunction with local boroughs, TfL is investigating potential extensions of the system. Two extensions have been subject to further work. The 2.8km extension from Harrington Road to Crystal Palace Park, predominantly via an existing National Rail corridor, would terminate at Crystal Palace Parade, close to the bus station, although the location of the terminus could change to fit with the park’s redevelopment. TfL is also now considering frequency with at least six trams per hour to Crystal Palace.” The London Borough of Bromley is certainly not standing still. connectivity 17

Orpington is Changing

Walnuts cracking on with redevelopment with lettings to national multiples secured. Two key new lettings to national operators B&M and Pure Gym at the Walnuts Shopping Centre in Orpington have paved the way for building work to start on the ÂŁ10m Crown House redevelopment.

The high quality new extension will deliver a combined retail and leisure complex to the heart of Orpington, regenerating the town centre and transforming it into a major mixed use destination.

The 65,000 sq ft development anchored by a 7 screen Odeon cinema is scheduled for completion by spring 2015.

Together with three restaurant units and a new public square, the development will offer a contemporary, modern environment to suit a wide range of retailer requirements.

Fast expanding B&M, one of the leading variety retailers in the UK, has secured space in the development in line with its strategy to grow its store base in southern England.

Orpington will be strengthened by The Walnutsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; new role as a community hub and retail/leisure destination, encouraging further development and investment in the surrounding area.

Pure Gym, the national gym chain, will be making a substantial investment in the scheme, creating a new 24 hour gym of 14,300 sq ft.

The Walnuts, which currently totals 160,000 sq ft, is owned by Garden Property and asset managed by Vale Retail. Miller Developments is the development manager.

Kitchen La Frenais Morgan and Prime Retail are retained as letting agents.

Walnuts Shopping Centre, High Street, Orpington, BR6 0TW Tel: 01689 832 923 Web: thewalnutsshoppingcentre.com

Opportunity Knocks Bromley town centre’s designation as an opportunity area in the London Plan is bringing a new level of regeneration. Maria Shahid asks two of the council’s leading policiticans what all the fuss is about

Bromley Council leader Stephen Carr

Councillor Stephen Carr Council leader Councillor Stephen Carr is

understandably excited. Having recently been re-elected as council leader he’s overseeing a crucial phase of the London Borough of Bromley’s regeneration. “The Bromley Town Centre Area Action Plan was adopted four years ago in October 2010, and now the borough has been designated as an opportunity area in the London Plan. What this all means is that we are now in a really strong position to deliver quality development. “You only have to take a walk around Bromley town centre to see how our regeneration initiatives are being turned into reality. There are some really exciting new developments that are now starting to take shape, all designed to turn Bromley into a place where people want to live, work, shop and eat. What’s happening over

in St Mark’s Square really demonstrates this. The idea is to make Bromley a leisure and cultural hub, where people come to relax and unwind. The £90 million Cathedral development at St Mark’s Square will include a landscaped public square and a cinema, in addition to well-known restaurant chains, a hotel, apartments and a new car park.”

Bromley’s closeness by train to Victoria is a key strength, and £2 million worth of improvements are being made to Bromley South Station, adds Carr. There are still more restaurants due to open on the terrace opposite Queen’s Gardens, as well as further improvements, worth £17 million, which now have the go-ahead, at intu Bromley. Key objectives 19

What’s happening elsewhere?

20 invest bromley AUTUMN 2014

Councillor peter morgan Portfolio holder for renewal and recreation

Added to this, Cathedral has also just been selected for the redevelopent of the Grade II-listed Old Town Hall on Tweedy Road in Bromley North, which will see the building turned into a hotel and conference facility. A planning application for the scheme is due to be lodged in autumn 2014. “It makes us proud to think that we can breathe life into this really important old building in a town where we are already building,” explains a spokesperson for Cathedral. “Bromley has always been a premier shopping destination, but what’s happening now will really take our retail offer to a whole new level,” enthuses Carr. “We’re really excited about what’s been happening at Bromley North Village and Market Square. The whole area has been upgraded with £5.5 million of improvements. It’s all about creating a sense of place. “The idea is to reconnect the historical core of the town with the pedestrianised zone, and improve footfall for the independent shops in the Village area. With the help of the Outer London Fund, we have been working on improving the streetscape in Market Square. We’re 01 St Mark’s Square, Cathedral Group’s mixed-use development at Bromley South. 02 Initial designs for improved public realm in Beckenham town centre.

20 invest bromley winter 2014

now going to focus on the High Street; making it a more enjoyable place to be, by creating lots of public spaces and squares. “We are acutely aware that there’s still a lot that can be done to improve the retail offer”, admits Carr. “We’re hoping to work in partnership with intu Bromley to explore options to deliver new retail floorspace there. Our aim is for the shopping centre to reflect Bromley’s affluent population by including more aspirational brands like Apple, The White Company and Carluccio’s. “We’ve also just acquired, using the council’s economic development and investment fund, a number of retail properties within Bromley High Street, at a total cost of £28.7 million.” Housing is another key priority for Bromley, adds Carr. In addition to the apartments going up in St Mark’s Square, and the planning consent for a mixed-use scheme at 1 Westmoreland Road, Crest Nicholson is creating 160 homes at Ringers Road. “What we’re focusing on now is our Business Improvement District (BID) proposal. We’ve established a BID Board with a view to taking the BID designation to Bromley South and North office areas. It’s a great way for businesses to get together and fund local initiatives; funding that’s by the people and for the people, so we’re really hoping it gets the go-ahead!”

Councillor Peter Morgan oversees renewal and recreation at the council. He explains that while Bromley town remains a priority, the council’s aspirations extend much further. “We are working on a number of improvements throughout the borough. We are at the initial design stage for a £3 million public realm scheme to improve the number of visitors to Beckenham town centre. And in Penge, council officers are working closely with the GLA on a £1.4 million programme as part of the Crystal Palace strategic outer London development centre designation.” Bromley’s neighbour, Orpington is also being transformed, adds Morgan. “Work has started on the new cinema-led scheme and the college hospitality training facility. In addition, there are plans for the old police station, as well as improvements to the Walnuts shopping centre. “Attracting small and mediumsized businesses is a priority for us, and what we’re doing in the Cray Valley Corridor is a great example of that. We’re looking to improve the infrastructure, so that we can provide more floor space for such businesses. “And we’re not stopping there. Biggin Hill is one of Bromley’s largest employment centres and we’re working with LoCATE (London Centre for Aviation Technology and Enterprise) to create more job opportunities there.”

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Next event also features south coast councils

10 FEBrUARY 2015 at the shard DETAILS AT Sitematchlondon.com 0207 978 6840 Advisers

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ROAD

High Street

Glas

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Chur

STREET

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Queensmead Recreation Ground

Italian Gardens d ld Roa Elmfie

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Bromley South station St Markâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Square

22 invest bromley winter 2014

Palace View

A round-up of the schemes coming to fruition across the London Borough of Bromley

Development locations in the Borough of Bromley 03 Orpington Police Station 04 Crystal Palace 05 Beckenham town centre 06 Walnuts shopping centre, Orpington Royal Blackheath Golf Club

h Common

London

Sid

cup

New Eltham

11 A2

212

Sydenham Hill Wood

216

Dulwic

Crystal Palace Park

A222

Sidcup 08

Downham

1 20

Sundridge Park Golf Club

Penge

222

BICKLEY

Scadbury Park Nature Reserve

A222

BROMLEY

BECKENHAM

CHISLEHURST

Hawkwood Estate

Shortlands

ST PAULâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

South Norwood Country Park 08

Petts Wood

03 06

HAYES

A232

A233

WEST WICKHAM

ORPINGTON A232

A23

A232

Lloyd Park Addington Golf Course

2 A20

KESTON A2

Croham Hurst

Bramley Bank

Fanborough

Addington Palace Golf Club

Coombe Wood

Green Street Green

bromley PROJECTS 23

Bromley North Village SITE 01 The ÂŁ5.5 million North Village improvement project in the heart of Bromley incorporates Market Square, East Street and High Street North, and aims to turn the area into a thriving part of Bromley town centre. The challenge facing designers Studio Egret West was to treat each part of the project differently, without making the whole unnecessarily complicated. Urban spaces are distinguished from each other through subtle variations such as pavement sizes and kerb heights, while still sharing common design themes to ensure continuity throughout the project. 24 invest bromley winter 2014

One of the most challenging elements of the project, at East Street, was balancing the conflicting needs of pedestrians and vehicles. It was surmounted using design features and intelligent traffic planning: widening pavements to give shoppers a greater share of the street space, and so increasing the number of people who can access stores; physically moving traffic away from shops, and allowing retailers and leisure providers to spill out on to the street. By raising the road to the same level as the pavement, creating single-level street scenes and removing kerbs in the East Street area,

traffic is slowed down as drivers become more aware of the pedestrians around them. In the Market Square area of Bromley North Village, the designer wanted to make the social space work differently at night by installing footlights into the pavement to â&#x20AC;&#x153;uplightâ&#x20AC;? the street scene after dark. This was achieved using a series of solar powered lights, which were put into the pavements, avoiding the need for an electricity supply. Five new businesses have moved into the area, but Kevin Munnelly, head of renewal at Bromley Council, believes it is the intangible benefits that provide the most value.

bromley old town hall SITE 02 Cathedral Hotels plans to develop a fourstar hotel, restaurant, wedding venue and conference centre at Bromley Town Hall, an example of the borough’s most historic architecture. Features of the Grade IIlisted building, including the art deco style entrance foyer and staircase will be restored.

Cathedral aims to attract corporate clients for conferences and meet local demand for a high quality lesiure and wedding venue. Bromley Council entered into a conditional agreement to grant a long lease to the Cathedral Group, which proposes to submit a planning application in late 2014.

Orpington police station SITE 03 Orpington’s former police station is to become a mixed-use scheme, part of the larger Walnuts development, if Berkley Homes’ planning application, submitted in August 2014, is approved. The 0.2-ha building – next to Sainsbury’s, Bromley College and the Walnuts shopping centre – has been vacant since late 2013

when the Metropolitan Police decided to move to another location. Berkeley Homes bought it in February 2014. The proposed scheme will include 83 new one and two-bedroom flats (12 affordable and shared ownership), a 1,979sq m NHS health and wellbeing centre, and basement parking for 45 cars, as well as enough cycle

spaces for each home and the health centre. The whole scheme is to be built using local, vernacular materials. After an initial public consultation in July, where Berkeley Homes presented its proposals and invited comments from local residents and stakeholders, a public exhibition took place in September.

bromley PROJECTS 25

Crystal Palace SITE 04 The £500 million vision to reinterpret the famous Crystal Palace, destroyed by fire in 1936, has moved a step closer, with six architects shortlisted in the competition to design its replacement to the ‘spirit, scale and magnificence’ of the original, which was approximately 50 metres high and 500 metres long. The six architects – whittled down from the 40 leading international practices that applied – are: Zaha Hadid Architects (designer of the London Aquatic Centre) with Anish Kapoor; David Chipperfield Architects 26 invest bromley winter 2014

(the River and Rowing Museum in Henley); Rogers Stirk Harbour + Partners (famous for the Millennium Dome and the Centre Pompidou, Paris); the Grimshaw practice (home to Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, the architect behind the Eden Project in Cornwall); Marks Barfield Architects (designer of the London Eye) and Haworth Tompkins (the Young Vic theatre). The contest – backed by the Chinese ZhongRong Group – is to design a “cultureled exhibition and employment space”, with conference centre, exhibition hall and high-

class hotel. The scheme is expected to create up to 2,000 jobs. Mayor of London, Boris Johnson, who is chairing the jury panel, said: “The rebuild of the Crystal Palace is set to produce an extraordinary new landmark for the capital, which will support the rebirth of the historic Crystal Palace Park and catalyse jobs and growth in the local area.” Crystal Palace is one of the mayor’s strategic outer London development centres, with connections to London Overground at Clapham Junction and rail to London Bridge.

Beckenham SITE 05 Work has begun on the detailed designs for a £3.2 million package of improvement work for Beckenham town centre, upgrading its public realm to make the most of its historical heritage and improve logistics. The long, L-shaped high street – part of the Transport for London (TfL) strategic route network – suffers from congestion, as well as problems with wayfinding and legibility. The project will address this with upgraded road junctions, wider pavements, new lighting columns and street furniture. The first areas looked at have been around Beckenham Junction station, making it more welcoming and spacious to new arrivals and safer to cross, and Beckenham Green, better connecting it to the high street. The project by East Architects, jointly funded by TfL and Bromley Council, is expected to go on-site in 2016. Councillor Peter Morgan, Bromley’s renewal and recreation lead, said the project would emphasise Beckenham’s “village identity” and that the authority had worked closely with local residents groups and stakeholders to produce an improvement strategy and public realm concept designs. “This is an exciting time for Beckenham town centre and this bid will support our ongoing work and the vitality of the town,” added Morgan. “Beckenham has a thriving community and a diverse and successful range of independent businesses, specialist shops, restaurants and cafes. “Public realm improvements aid the local economy and trading environment, and will support the future economic vibrancy of Beckenham town centre, as well as enhancing its historic heritage.”

Walnuts SITE 06 Building work began in July 2014 on Miller Construction’s £10 million addition to the Walnuts shopping centre in Orpington. The 6,038sq m scheme, which is due to complete in spring 2015, will feature a seven-screen Odeon multiplex cinema, as well as three restaurants, three retail units and a fitness centre operated by national chain Pure Gym. B&M Stores is also taking a unit, as part of its strategy to extend its base

throughout the south-east of England. With improved public realm, including two mature walnut trees, and modern retail units, the development is expected to make a vital contribution to the regeneration of the town centre. Sharon Baldwin, operations director of Orpington BID, added that: “Local people are really excited about the new complex. This is the first of a number of projects that will transform Orpington.”

bromley PROJECTS 27

Fund appeal

An outdoor cafe culture, brand new shop fronts – and a pocket park out of what was previously a church yard – are just some of the initiatives that have benefited from the Mayor’s Outer London Fund. James Wood reports on a funding scheme that is creating a buzz in Bromley

28 invest bromley winter 2014

Grant funding has been allocated

for Bromley in two phases. The town centre received £275,000 in June 2011, and a further £2 million was approved in January 2012 – round two of the Outer London Fund’s (OLF) provisions for the borough. The council boosted this by matching the figure allocated for phase two, with Transport for London providing a further £1.5 million. And the results are starting to show. A major project which the OLF has been partly responsible for is the Bromley North Village improvement project with new paving, planters, more outside seating areas and a revamped and improved traffic and pedestrian management system in and around Market Square, East Street and High Street north. This work is due to be completed by the end of November 2014.

Bromley Council’s head of renewal, Kevin Munnelly, explains that the aim of the renewal strategy is to turn the market town area into the thriving heart of Bromley. “We want people to stay in the town centre as long as possible, visiting our independent specialist retailers and eating in our restaurants and cafes. We need to offer something that differentiates us from other medium-sized towns by providing something much more than out of town shopping centres like Bluewater.” The project focuses on the three main areas of Bromley North Village. The northern section of the main High Street, the Market Square, the pedestrianised historic market trading area, and East Street, home to a number of pubs, cafes and restaurants. Although within close proximity of each other, the intention is to

give each area its own unique environment and create an infrastructure that supports the various uses of each part of the town. At Bromley’s East Street, an area predominantly occupied by bars and restaurants, the pavement has been widened by around six metres to encourage alfresco dining and drinking. Instead of pedestrianising the road completely, the carriageway was narrowed into a one-way street and raised to the same level as the pavement to slow passing traffic. The successful changes to East Street were recently celebrated with the launch of the East Street Food Festival in July, opened by the mayor of London. At Market Square, which has a far higher volume of traffic than East Street, ensuring harmony between pedestrians and other road users has been even more important. “Pedestrians and vehicles will flow through the Market Square area, aided by simple changes like the removal of barriers, improved signage and crossings where pedestrians can clearly see the space they are moving into. It’s not rocket science but you’d be surprised how difficult it is to get right,” adds Munnelly. Although the Bromley North Village project is still live and due to be completed at the end of 2014, the council is already seeing a marked change in the fortunes of the town centre, with investment flooding back into the now completed East Street. “We’ve got bars and restaurants showing real interest, with some already investing in the area,” says Munnelly. “On East Street and in Market Square we’re seeing shops redesigning their frontages to make better use of the open spaces that we’ve created on the pavements outside. “People’s attitudes and perceptions about the town have changed completely – that much is obvious just by walking around the town centre and seeing how much people are enjoying being there.” Complementing this is another project stream of the Outer London Fund – the Bromley North Village shop front improvement scheme. This involves refurbishing buildings, upgrading signage and canopies, installing new vinyl window lettering, repainting and cleaning. Some shop fronts have even been entirely replaced. According to project planner for town centre renewal, Virgil Rappa, who

oversaw the scheme, as of September 2014, renovation work was complete on all shop fronts except one. “We have engaged the stakeholders at every level,” adds Rappa. Twenty-four businesses in Bromley have benefited, with more than £200,000 devoted to the project. Matt Cannon, from Bromley Hearing Care Centre, says: “We are proud to be part of the shop front programme with its focus on heritage and regeneration.” Bar du Vin and Ferrari’s Italian are two of the bars and restaurants to have had their frontage renovated. Rappa explains that these improvements go a long way towards the council’s ambitions to create a “cafe culture” in Bromley, giving businesses local networking opportunities. Bromley town centre is already considered a major shopping destination, and further measures have been implemented through the OLF to attract people to the high street. These include the ‘Are you Bromley?’ initiative, a local campaign to host events such as the High Street Garden festival in the summer of

“We want people to stay in the town centre as long as possible, visiting our independent specialist retailers”

01 A revamped Bromley North Village features improved pedestrian areas, better signage and new paving. 02 The success of changes at East Street were marked with mayor of London, Boris Johnson’s visit to Bromley to launch the East Street Food Festival in July. 03 The launch of the redesigned community garden at St Mark’s Church. OUTER LONDON FUND 29

2014, which featured an outdoor cinema, music and dance performances, craft workshops as well as children’s activities. The OLF has also supported the introduction of Legible London wayfinding signs and interactive town maps to Bromley town centre, designed to improve the pedestrian experience in the town. Two new signs will herald the north and south entrances to the town centre. Additional “badly needed” seating has been installed at bus stops along the high street and improvements are being made to pedestrian routes, with the aim to increase footfall to shops. The council says the work is due to be completed in time for

05 30 invest bromley winter 2014

the Christmas trading rush. Another initiative is a programme of lighting key buildings in the town centre after dark, to make the streets more vibrant by night. St Mark’s Church and the Churchill Theatre are the first two buildings to benefit. Everywhere you look, there is evidence that the ambition to improve the borough’s appeal to investors, residents and those who work in Bromley is being boosted by the OLF. The funding is being used in a very focused way, providing benefits for residents, leading to a boom for local businesses and creating a catalyst for further regeneration.

A New Pocket Park in Bromley South – The St Mark’s Church Garden Project Arriving at St Mark’s Church in Bromley South on Sunday mornings, Rev Steven Varney strolls proudly past a revamped community garden on his way into the building – a consequence of the OLF, which is spurring community regeneration projects all over Bromley. Once closed up and hidden away by overgrown trees and plants, clearing out and tidying up the garden has given the church a new lease of life, according to Varney. “The church has much more visual impact now, which has encouraged more engagement with the local community,” he says. “Since the work was completed, I have noticed that many people who work locally are already enjoying the use of the space on their lunch breaks. “Psychologically, it has broken down barriers between the church and the local community. Judging by the comments people make when walking past, they seem really pleased with what has been done.” Delivered in partnership between the developer, Cathedral Group, the church, the London Borough of Bromley and the Diocese of Rochester, a community garden might sound like small potatoes, but architect Studio Egret West’s design is capturing the imagination of Bromley’s locals. Making use of the improved public space right from the off, the opening of the garden in July 2014 saw a large turnout of locals coming to enjoy a number of family activities.

04 By engaging with stakeholders at every level, the Bromley North Village shop front improvement project allowed shops to be tailored to individual owners. 05 More than £200,000 was allocated to the project, and 24 businesses in Bromley have benefited.

Bromley is Open for Business To discuss our development opportunities contact: Marc Hume Director of Regeneration and Transformation 020 8461 7987 marc.hume@bromley.gov.uk

Kevin Munnelly Head of Town Centre Renewal 020 8313 4582 kevin.munnelly@bromley.gov.uk

Jim Kehoe Chief Planner 020 8313 4441 jim.kehoe@bromley.gov.uk

Heather Hosking Head of Strategic Property 020 8313 4421 heather.hosking@bromley.gov.uk

www.bromley.gov.uk

Quality Streets Noella Pio Kivlehan, Estates Gazette’s markets editor, reports on some of the Bromley town centre schemes generating renewed interest from south London’s shoppers

01 32 invest bromley winter 2014

Bromley is one of London’s top

metropolitan centres, and also one of the best places to shop, work and live. And now it is looking to up its game even further. In January, London mayor Boris Johnson proposed making Bromley town centre one of the capital’s opportunity areas in recognition of its capacity to deliver new residential development and jobs. The current area action plan for the town, adopted in 2010, promotes the delivery of 1820 new homes and 2000 new jobs by 2025. The decision to confirm the opportunity area status is due in early 2015 but until that decision is made, Bromley is pushing ahead with its own plans. Part of this is a major extension to intu Bromley, formerly known as The Glades shopping centre, which gained approval in September, and the redevelopment of the Old Town Hall in the heart of the town. Bromley’s main competition is coming from Croydon. The planned £1 billion Westfield and Hammerson redevelopment, known as the Croydon

Partnership, promises over the next few years to transform Croydon’s two main shopping centres – the Whitgift and Centrale – into a state-of-the-art, ultramodern shopping and entertainment emporium like no other in south London. Given this mammoth development is only six miles from Bromley, or just a 19 minute clear drive, the town is readying itself for the challenge. Intu Bromley’s general manager, Marc Myers, sums up the mood in Bromley: “We can’t stand still. With the [Croydon Partnership] coming out of the ground we need to make sure we retain our customers.” St Mark’s Square, formerly known as Bromley South Central, is already seeing a revamp, with major residential and leisure developments. The Cathedral Group development is due to be completed at the end of 2015, and will see the opening of 200 private and affordable apartments, eight restaurants, a ninescreen multiplex cinema, a 130-bed Premier Inn and a 400-space car park. Now it’s the turn of Bromley Central and North to shine. Major redevelopments in the area include a long overdue extension to the 21-year-old (and recently rebranded) intu Bromley shopping centre, the redevelopment of the Grade II-listed Old Town Hall into a unique leisure and conference destination, as well as a scheme of 160 new apartments from housebuilder Crest Nicholson. In August last year permission was granted for five new restaurants on the terrace next to intu Bromley, overlooking Queen’s Gardens on Kentish Way. Development of the much-vaunted restaurant terrace, known as the Italian Gardens, will soon get under way, and other elements of the upgrading of intu Bromley are also progressing, with permission now granted for a cinemaanchored leisure development. A major part of Bromley North’s refurbishment plan is the bringing back to life of the Cathedral Group redevelopment

01 Cathedral’s St Mark’s Square mixed-use development features restaurants as well as a hotel. 02 An artist’s impression of part of the major overhaul happening at intu Bromley.

“Bromley is pushing ahead with its own plans. Part of this is a major extension to intu Bromley” of the Grade II-listed Old Town Hall, which will see the building turned into a luxury hotel and conference facility. “We’ve been after this one for a while,” comments Kevin Foster, the project director at Cathedral Hotels. “It’s about creating something unique.” Cathedral Group signed the development agreement with Bromley Council last year and is in the process of finalising a detailed planning application, following discussions with English Heritage. It aims to make a start on the development in the first half of 2015, and open for business in 2016. Cathedral intends to turn the town hall into a unique boutique hotel with 100 rooms, wedding, conference and restaurant facilities, and to also buy the South Street car park next door. “We will be building 50 apartments that will lead to the north of the town hall. There will be one, two and three-bedroom flats as well as an affordable element,” Foster says.

“We can’t wait to get started on this. The refurbishment and regeneration of the town hall is all part of our masterplan to bring local people in to live, shop and eat locally in Bromley.” And elsewhere, the retail competition is not having a smooth passage to secure planning consent, as in September, 130 objections were lodged against the Croydon Partnership’s compulsory purchase order, crucial to Hammerson and Westfield’s £1 billion town centre redevelopment plans. Croydon Council described the number of objections to the CPO as a “significant” number. “It’s not a done deal yet,” says Bromley’s Councillor Morgan. Whatever the outcome of the objections, Bromley Council is pushing ahead with all of its ambitions for the town centre. Plans, it says, that are designed to attract people into an area that it believes has a lot to offer as an urban cultural hub. bromley TOWN CENTRE 33

Hot housing

01 34 invest bromley winter 2014

Voted one of London’s greenest boroughs, and the best place for families with young children, Bromley is building housing to meet all tastes and budgets. Maria Shahid reports on two of the borough’s latest residential schemes

With its affluent middle class

population, Bromley boasts the sort of housing that many young Londoners aspire to. Leafy, tree-lined roads, filled with a mix of large and small Victorian and Edwardian houses abound in areas such as Sundridge Park and Bromley Old Town, while in Bromley South, mixeduse schemes provide commuters with contemporary, modern living quarters, within walking distance of Bromley South train station. The borough prides itself on the quality and variety of its housing, and its emerging Local Plan aims to promote “mixed and balanced communities by meeting the housing requirements of the whole community, including those in need of affordable and supported housing”. And now that the borough is on track to become one of London’s opportunity areas, as announced by London mayor, Boris Johnson, earlier this year as part of his plans to meet the capital’s 42,000-new-homes-a-year target,

01 Cathedral Group’s St Mark’s Square development at Bromley South plays a key part in the council’s housing initiatives. 02 New housing development at Ringers Road.

Bromley’s housing initiatives and projects have really started to gain traction. One project that the borough is particularly proud of is the Cathedral Group development at Bromley South, which the developer is carrying out in partnership with the council. The £90 million mixed-use scheme, to be known as St Mark’s Square, aims to bring a new “urban lifestyle” to Bromley South. It consists of a residential and leisure quarter with a landscaped public square surrounded by a ninescreen multiplex Vue Cinema, cafes and restaurants, including Latin American restaurant chain Las Iguanas and Nando’s, a 130-bedroom Premier Inn Hotel, a 400-space underground car park, as well as private and affordable housing. The Cathedral scheme promises to create 220 jobs in Bromley and inject at least £220 million into the local economy. The proximity of St Mark’s Square to Bromley South railway station is one of its selling points for buyers who need to commute to central London. There are direct links to both Victoria and Blackfriars from the station – with the former taking 16 minutes. Work started on-site in April 2013, and the development received a further boost in May 2013 when Hermes Real Estate Investment Management (HREIML) agreed to partner with Cathedral. Other backers include the Greater London Authority (GLA) and the Homes and Communities Agency (HCA), which has invested £9.5 million through its Get Britain Building funding programme, aimed at accelerating “the delivery of new homes by supporting development sites with planning permission”. McLaren Construction has been appointed as the main contractor on the project. Cathedral’s chief executive, Richard Upton, commented at the time of the

Churchill place Appraisal work completed in respect of this key opportunity site in the heart of the town centre, near the Churchill Theatre, has illustrated the potential it has for the delivery of a mixed-use redevelopment. The council’s revised strategy for the site will seek to promote Churchill Place as a phased residential, mixeduse development opportunity. The council is currently evaluating development options to deliver a first phase scheme which has the potential to deliver up to 300 new homes, as well as new restaurants, community facilities and a new piazza as part of a remodelled high street.

Hermes announcement: “This partnership with HREIML is a major endorsement of Cathedral’s innovative approach to development and sends out a positive message to other local authorities and town centres as to what can be achieved, if private and public partners work entrepreneurially together to unlock and create opportunities for growth”. And St Mark’s Square in Bromley South has the backing not only of the borough but of the mayor’s office, with Richard Blakeway, the deputy mayor for housing and land, commenting that the Cathedral scheme “is exactly the type of scheme the mayor wants to see more of in the capital. As London’s population continues to rise, developments such as this one, with a mix of retail, leisure and housing, can help to increase the supply of homes and boost the local economy”. The development is due to complete in autumn 2015 and took part in Open House London in September, which, as Upton explains, “was a great opportunity to explore hundreds of inspiring buildings and places across London. With that in mind, we were delighted to give people the chance to get under the skin of our St Mark’s Square development and understand how much goes into all our projects”. Upton added that alongside partner McLaren, Cathedral is making good progress on the scheme. HOUSING 35

BWA

BERNARD WILLIAMS ASSOCIATES CHARTERED SURVEYORS

BUILDING ECONOMISTS

Invest Bromley partners group Joining together to support Bromley

Acorn Property Consultants commercial@acorn.ltd.uk Baxter Philips Philip Lapper philip.lapper@baxterphilips.co.uk Bromley College communications@bromley.ac.uk BWA Mike Packman mike.packham@bwa.uk.net Guy Holloway Architects Guy Holloway guy@guyhollaway.co.uk McDonalds (Bromley) Tonina Hoang toninahoang@hotmail.com McLaren Chanade Ramsay chanade.ramsay@mclarengroup.com Michael Rogers Mike Lewis mike.lewis@michaelrogers.co.uk Robinson Escott Planning Fiona Dalitis fiona@replanning.co.uk Stiles Harold Williams Partnership Jon Dickman jdickman@shw.co.uk Bromley North Town Team Tonina Hoang toninahoang@hotmail.com

BROMLEY NORTH VILLAGE

Hyde Housing Ellena Williams ellena.williams@hyde-housing.co.uk For more information about these companies visit investbromley.com/partners

38 invest bromley AUTUMN 2014

Sky high People fly to faraway places from Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s premier business airport, Biggin Hill. Growing aviation companies and jobs also help Bromleyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s economy to soar. As a 21st century commercial hub, Biggin Hill is a uniquely valuable asset to Bromley, London and the south-east. Paul Coleman reports 01 Visitors, customers and businesses at Biggin Hill benefit from a wide range of highly skilled, ground-based operations staff. 02 Castle Air set up a facility in Biggin Hill in 2013. 38 invest bromley winter 2014

“Bromley has a global gateway in its midst ... Passengers enjoy an efficient and very pleasant visit to Biggin Hill”

Politicians, celebrities, High-Net-

worth-individuals and high-flying cats and dogs are just some of the VIPs that regularly take off from and land at London Biggin Hill Airport’s two kilometre-long runway in the heart of the south London borough of Bromley. Biggin Hill Airport, set in lush Bromley countryside, is only 12 miles from London’s Mayfair and less than 10 minutes transit by helicopter to Battersea helipad. No wonder passengers regard Biggin Hill as their luxury VIP global

gateway to London and the south-east. Frequency attracts them also: the airport hosts up to four flights a day to and from the United States. Destinations include Biggin Hill’s sister airport at Teterboro in New Jersey, as well as Tokyo, Beijing and Shanghai. Flights to and from Sao Paulo, Brazil, and India also begin and end at the airport, as do one-stop flights to Australia. “It’s very evident that Bromley has a global gateway in its midst,” says Robert Walters, business development director at Biggin Hill Airport Ltd (BHAL). “We make sure passengers enjoy an efficient and very pleasant visit to Biggin Hill,” he adds. “Some even want to come back to set up their business and home in Bromley.” The capability and efficiency of much quieter modern business jets continues to improve, and raise Biggin Hill’s global business aviation profile. The airport will not necessarily see increased flights or any rise in fixed based operators in the short-term. But Walters

expects London Biggin Hill to expand in other ways highly beneficial to the local community and to Bromley residents overall. “Our future strategy will enhance the airport as a successful business,” comments Walters. Rising demand exists for Biggin Hill to grow as a centre of excellence in aviation design, build and maintenance. The airport’s combined fixed base and maintenance businesses already employ hundreds of skilled people. For example, RAS Group, based at Biggin Hill, specialises in the design and building of interiors, and in the painting and finishing of exteriors for business and commercial airlines worldwide. Investment in new technology has increased the capabilities and capacity of the RAS paint shop and completion centre. According to Walters, the airport and its fellow stakeholders are working closely on ambitions to create up to 2,300 new jobs between now and 2030. Just over 1,000 people currently work for the biggin hill 39

60-plus, independent, aviation-related businesses based in and around Biggin Hill Airport. Over 40 of these firms operate within the London Centre for Aviation Technology and Enterprise (LoCATE), a dynamic initiative that aims to maximise the aviation-led economic potential of Biggin Hill. LoCATE’s private and public sector stakeholders include BHAL and Formula One, the company managing Grand Prix motor racing, as well as aircraft operators like Jet Aviation, Rizon Jet, Castle Air and Arena. There are, in addition, air taxi operators, flight training schools and the airport’s freeholder, the London Borough of Bromley. LoCATE informs Bromley’s Local Plan and, crucially, collaborates with the local community to share the airport’s job and business opportunities. “LoCATE very successfully brings together stakeholders in and around 40 invest bromley winter 2014

“LoCATE successfully brings together stakeholders in and around the airport to create business conensus” the airport to create consensus on what enables businesses to succeed at Biggin Hill,” says Walters. “It ensures certainty over planning, and this in turn allows national and local authorities to support the airport knowing the value that business aviation brings.” Visitors, customers and businesses that come to Biggin Hill Airport constantly see this added value, benefiting from a wide range of ground-based operations staff: aircraft engineers, ramp controllers, jet interior carpenters, aviation security agents, five star airline chefs, front-of-

house customer service professionals, UK Border officials, and chauffeurs. And these employees don’t clog rush-hour local roads and congest trains; aviation demands varied shift-working across a flexible 06.30-22.00 timetable. Furthermore, Biggin Hill’s diverse cluster of aviation-related companies supports a wide range of jobs at other Bromley-based companies – a consequence of the airport’s healthy and lengthening supply chain. Walters is very positive about new job opportunities at the airport; his optimism is based on the

airport’s confluence of positive factors. These include an expanding number of ground-based aviation businesses, connected transport infrastructure and willing landowners. Importantly, there is high-level political support via LoCATE from Bromley Council, the Greater London Authority, the mayor of London, as well as from aviation regulators. Latent potential exists on the adjacent privately owned West Camp, a 12-ha site untouched since the Royal Air Force left Biggin Hill in 1987. Ongoing discussions with a range of stakeholders focus on creating an aviation training college centred on aircraft maintenance. BHAL also enjoys solid relationships with Bromley College and the borough’s schools. Young people increasingly want to find out more about the airport’s potential apprenticeships and job opportunities. With the growing globalisation of the aviation industry, a young person

Rizon Jet

Arena

Rizon Jet UK’s combined fixed base and maintenance operation aims to exemplify London Biggin Hill Airport’s stated commitment to global excellence. Rizon Jet’s £30 million facility at Biggin Hill boasts luxurious VIP lounges, world-class boardrooms, private business suites, breakout areas, private showers, and a prayer room. Airframes, avionics and engines are maintained, repaired and overhauled in a pristine, open span hangar to levels that set new international standards. Flight crews enjoy their own facilities, flight briefing rooms and lounges. Biggin Hill has hosted exclusive events for Rolls-Royce, Jaguar and Bentley. Chief executive Allan McGreal identifies a typical scenario: “As a passenger flying in your chartered aircraft, to arrive in London via our Biggin Hill VIP Terminal, you will experience calm and exclusive service as you park within metres of the terminal. You will be met by a professional team of people, where your every need is delivered to an exceptional standard. We have built and equipped a facility that offers sumptuous surroundings while you prepare for your onward journey. “Our award-winning people are available to ensure nothing is left to chance, and everything is just what you need, and when you need it”.

Arena has almost two decades of business jet and helicopter operational experience – and enjoys a reputation for flying Formula One racing drivers, actors, musicians and sports personalities all over Europe. Biggin Hill is the base for the Arena fleet of eight aircraft, which includes Citation XLS business jets and AgustaWestland and Airbus helicopters. Arena also holds UK government approval for carrying suitably vaccinated pets in and out of the UK. SkyPets trained pet handlers board aircraft when they land at Biggin Hill Airport and check the pet’s passport and microchip. Pets are then free to disembark the aircraft with their owners and proceed to immigration control. Adam Twidell, chief executive of PrivateFly, the leading private jet booking network, explains that Biggin Hill is “a well-established choice in London for private jet passengers and pets alike”. 03 Using its fleet of helicopters, Castle Air connects business travellers to Biggin Hill. 04 Pet owners are a growing customer group for private aviation. Tex, the Labradoodle puppy, is one of many pets enjoying the SkyPets service.

biggin hill 41

could start as an apprentice at Biggin Hill, and enjoy a long career, working either at the airport, as it expands its influence in the global aviation business sector, or they could work overseas. “We want local younger people to enjoy an aviation career,” says Walters. “We have a strong message to the people of Bromley: their sons or daughters could work anywhere in the world after successfully training at Biggin Hill. There is huge global demand for skilled aviation workers.” Walters attributes the growing impetus at Biggin Hill to the LoCATE initiative and to the airport’s designation within the London Plan as a strategic outer London development centre (SOLDC). This support from the Greater London Authority, mayor of London and Bromley Council has helped airport-based companies to feel more confident about their sustainable future growth at Biggin Hill. Confidence shown by national and local planning authorities is fundamental to the business activities at Biggin Hill. “Aviation is a global business and customers have global choices,” says Walters. “If Biggin Hill wants to remain competitive in aviation technology and engineering, our customers need to know that the planning and aviation regulatory authorities are supportive.” As a military base, Biggin Hill helped the Royal Air Force to stoically defend Britain during World War II. Biggin Hill has come a long way since it first opened as an airfield in 1917, and would appear to have a long and bright future ahead of it.

Castle Air Castle Air set up a new facility at Biggin Hill Airport in 2013 creating 23 new jobs. Biggin Hill extends Castle Air’s helicopter charter, sales, engineering and pilot training operations beyond its Liskeard HQ in Cornwall. Crucially, Biggin Hill also allows Castle Air to offer a first-class private jet charter service to any global destination. Business and leisure travellers book one-way, day return or long-stay return journeys. They enjoy flight, catering, concierge and chauffeur services tailored specifically to their needs. Castle Air accesses hundreds of privately-owned luxury aircraft ranging from four-seater light aircraft to 30-plus seater business jets.

The company’s success is also based on its ‘air taxi’ service, part of a global trend radically altering air travel. Passengers can book and even share four-seat air-taxi jets that can travel to over 600 smaller European airports, many of which are more closely located to where travellers actually want to go. Founded in 1979, Castle Air rose to fame flying Anneka Rice around the UK for the hit TV show, Treasure Hunt. Nowadays, footage filmed in a Castle Air helicopter can be viewed almost every night on TV. 05 Castle Air operates Agusta 109 helicopters, as well as being one of the largest dealers of AgustaWestland helicopters in the world market.

growth Opportunities

“We want local younger people to enjoy an aviation career ... There is huge global demand for skilled aviation workers” 42 invest bromley winter 2014

Consulation on Bromley’s Local Plan draft policies and designations, published in March of this year, was part of an ongoing process aimed at developing the borough’s Local Plan. The consultation document picked up on Biggin Hill’s SOLDC status, and the potential for increased support of ‘economic growth activities’ at the airport and adjoining industrial land. The airport’s economic growth will focus on aviation-related activities, together with associated business infrastructure as well as amenities.

The precise amount, location and type of development forms part of a masterplan, which the council is currently working on with the support of the airport’s operators and LoCATE. The council and its partners are keen to realise a long-term ambition to establish an aviation technology and enterprise centre at the airport, that will train the engineers of the future, as well as nurturing growth orientated companies.

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Bromley by numbers 44 invest bromley AUTUMN 2014

Bromley covers an area of

150sq km

Londonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s largest

135

retail outlets in intu Bromley,

406 units in Bromley town centre

borough by area

Bromley employment is

forecast to increase by

6% to 137,000 by 2031(DTZ London Borough of Bromley Office, Industry and Leisure study, 2012)

Approximately half of local jobs are taken by residents of Bromley and

55%

of the local

working population

travel out of the borough to work, the majority (35.8%) in central London 44 invest bromley winter 2014

Over 1.3 million

people live within a

30-minute drive

of Bromley town centre

INTRODUCING bromley 45

With a population of just over

Bromley’s two-year business startup survival rate: 75.9% London average: 70.2%

306,000

Bromley has the sixth highest population among the London boroughs (2011 Census)

Average house price (as at July 2014)

£356,192 Detached Semi-detached Terrace Flat

£704,617 £395,566 £315,017 £251,506

Bromley town centre received

£275,000

in June 2011 from the mayor’s Outer London Fund, and a further £2 million was approved in January 2012 (round two of the OLF’s provisions for the borough)

According to the National Statistics Socio-economic Classification of all usual residents of Bromley

aged 16-74 over 40%

of the population is employed in either higher or lower managerial, administrative or professional occupations (2011 Census)

Bromley’s economy is one of the largest in outer London, with just over 13,000 businesses and an estimated 129,000 jobs – an economic scale similar to cities such as Reading and Stoke-on-Trent markets 45

Sitematch Q&A 46 invest bromley AUTUMN 2014

Bromley’s head of renewal, Kevin Munnelly, speaks to Huub Nieuwstadt about how Sitematch has helped shape the borough’s regeneration strategy and what exactly attracts developers and investors to the area What are your objectives for attending Sitematch events?

I have attended quite a few Sitematch events in the past few years, and there are a number of reasons why I like them. Firstly, Sitematch offers a good opportunity to inform potential developers, investors and occupiers about Bromley and what we have to offer. The events are attended by developers and occupiers of all sizes, which allows us to get our message across to a truly diverse audience. Secondly, especially because the attending private sector delegates are so varied, I can gain invaluable market intelligence, as well as insights on what different sectors look for in development and regeneration opportunities.

What has been the impact of Sitematch on Bromley’s regeneration programme?

Even though Sitematch has not led to any tangible outcomes for us so far, we have found participating to be hugely beneficial. Speaking to a wide range of developers, investors and occupiers at the previous Sitematch events has helped us shape our regeneration strategy. What makes Bromley an attractive Borough to work with?

Bromley is the largest of the 33 London boroughs, and offers excellent train connections to centrally located stations: 17 minutes from Orpington to London Bridge and 16 minutes from Bromley South to Victoria. As the capital’s biggest borough, it covers a varied landscape: from densely populated suburbs to rural areas. The regeneration of Bromley town centre will transform the area and make it even more attractive to investors and developers, as well as occupiers.

01 46

Book your place at the next Sitematch London event to meet senior representatives from Bromley Council and other London boroughs and public sector landowners. Contact Sophie Gosling on 020 7978 6840 or visit sitematchlondon.com

01 Munnelly (right) discussing development and investment opportunities with attendees. 02 Sitematch London took place at The Shard in April 2014.

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southwark Issue 11 Spring 2014

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Essential Living is excited and proud to be working in association with Bromley Council. Essential Living is redefining the private rental market. By shifting the focus onto the needs of tenants we make renting as easy and fulfilling as possible. We design living spaces with sharers in mind, providing a balance of communal areas and privacy. Through developing and managing vibrant, social places to live, we are determined that renters can find a home that is flexible enough to suit their lifestyle.

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