Earlier this month Bromley Council gave approval for plans to redevelop their former home and a Grade II building. We want to have a closer look here to see what it means for the area. Then, if you want to arrange block management in Bromley, guaranteed rent, and more, you can rely on us to assist you.
Redevelopment
The Civic Centre was the Council’s home for almost 40 years, opening in 1988. However, in 2024 they moved to Churchill Court after completion of extensive remodelling and refurbishment of the office building. It left question marks over what would happen to the old offices, including Bromley Palace. Significantly, that same year the local authority chose to sell the assets, along with other properties, avoiding a huge bill to retain and refurbish them in the process.
Galliard was the successful buyer, paying £13.5m for the site. It is 6.74 acres, including the Civic Centre, Bromley Palace, and a number of other buildings. They then began drawing up plans to redevelop the land. The first proposal, converting two properties to create 128 flats, drew the ire of locals and failed to get planning permission. They were criticised for proposing to build too many one-bed units.
Galliard’s second plan is to demolish most of the buildings, build six new residential blocks, and convert Bromley Palace, creating 222 apartments. There will still be a large number of one-bed units (110 plus 2 studios), but the plans also include 95 two-bed, and 15 three-bed. One block will be for later living, offering 37 apartments. Speak to us about investing and block management in Bromley.
Approval
The plans got a green light from Bromley Council, following recommendations from planning officers. They praised the fact it will deliver a large volume of new homes, boosting housing supply in the borough. The plans will also create a commercial space, cycle parking, car parking spaces, and new open space. The latter got praise because it will open up part of the site to the public.
Currently Galliard is planning for 10% of the homes to be affordable, but is working to increase this number. Crucially, they are in discussion with the Greater London Authority. In order to boost the supply of affordable homes in the city, the GLA offers grants for various projects.
While the project got approval, it wasn’t smooth sailing. Like the previous plans, there were also objections to these. Again critics said the site was not suitable for tall blocks, with some calling the designs “overdevelopment”. Others would have preferred a focus on building family homes rather than flats. In addition, there are concerns about the impact on Bromley Palace and Park, pressure on local roads, and the visual character of the area.
Talk to us about block management in Bromley
While there are pros and cons with any development, it will be exciting to see the transformation of the Civic Centre site. Building more homes is never a bad thing too, especially when there is a housing crisis.
Bromley has a fantastic reputation as one of the quieter areas in Greater London. As a result, it’s a great place to live for anyone whole values this but still wants easy access to the city. Plus, it has good schools, green space, and some vibrant centres with plenty of amenities.
If you have assets in the area, or want to invest, speak to us about guaranteed rent, block management in Bromley, and more. We can give you a full package of services, ensuring you get the best results for your investments.
