Focus on Bromley

2020 has certainly been quite a year for Bromley town centre

Despite the ongoing challenges, new businesses are vying for space and viewing Bromley town centre as an excellent place to do business.

Recent additions to the town centre are Copper Ceylon, a Sri Lankan restaurant in East Street, Troll Trader selling games in The Mall and a Japanese restaurant which plans to open its doors in The Glades in November.

There’s lots of space for social distancing and customers are spending more per visit than before.

Your Bromley Business Improvement District (BID), the business partnership for Bromley town centre, is encouraging people to do their Christmas shopping early to beat the crowds expected from mid November onwards and to avoid the disappointment that often comes with online orders.

Bromley’s famous Charter market operates in the High Street/Market Square area between Thursdays and Saturdays, and a German themed market selling mostly street food will be in town throughout December. The Christmas lights, funded by Your Bromley will bring some Christmas cheer from Sunday 29 November onwards.

Frances Forrest, BID Manager of Your Bromley BID, said “times are still challenging for many businesses. Nevertheless, we are building back better. A new performance area with a permanent stage and covered seating will be in place by next summer, and artwork is planned for both ends of the pedestrianised area, also by summer 2021. Bromley remains an excellent place to live, work and visit, with easy transport routes.”

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A green vision for Catford town centre Consultation on a vision for Catford town centre could resume this year, as the draft Catford Town Centre Framework has been shared with Lewisham’s Mayor and Cabinet.

Despite an initial pause during the pandemic, work has continued over the summer on developing the draft framework which sets out a sustainable vision for how the town centre could develop over the next 10-15 years. The Council now wants to release this for further input and discussion with local people.

Over 2,500 comments and over 500 hours of face to face community engagement - led by Team Catford - has informed the draft framework plan. The starting point is the re-routing of the South Circular Road (A205) behind Laurence House which will free up more space to reimagine the town centre with pedestrians at its heart.

All these views and inputs have shaped a vision which fundamentally seeks to deliver: • green town centre a vibrant town centre an accessible town centre.

Catford Shopping Centre and Milford Towers will be replaced providing several hundred new homes, retail and commercial space and job opportunities. Up to 2,700 new homes (35% affordable) will be delivered across the town centre to reflect housing targets within the Council’s Growth Strategy, which plans for a growth corridor from New Cross and Deptford to Catford.

Planting on streets and in new generous public spaces will enhance biodiversity providing new habitats for birds, insects and other species through ‘green stepping stones’ linking the town centre to nearby River Pool Linear Park and Ladywell Fields.

Catford will remain the civic heart of the borough and work is underway to consider a refurbishment of the Old Town Hall and Civic Suite to provide new workspace for Lewisham Council, flexible public meeting space and an opportunity to celebrate the Grade II listed Broadway Theatre with public space around this important heritage building.

The framework document is still in draft form, pending community consultation. A programme of community consultation for autumn 2020 has been designed to be COVID-19 secure and will see the ideas shared with local people in pop-up locations throughout the town centre, video highlights, door-to-door distribution of newsletters and digital information sessions on Zoom.

Led by Team Catford, the consultation aims to capture a consensus from the community on a positive outlook for the town centre, with a particular focus on gathering views from a younger generation who may be looking to move into their own home, start a career and lay down roots in Catford.It is anticipated the Catford Town Centre Framework could be finalised by spring 2021 and some aspects of the plan could begin construction after 2021 with the entire redevelopment set to be complete by mid 2030s. Early projects include improvements to the stations area around Catford and Catford Bridge stations, the restoration of the former Catford Constitutional Club to provide a new lease of life for the community and workspace with Good Growth Funding from the Mayor of London.

Councillor Paul Bell, Cabinet Member for Housing and Planning said: “To be successful, the framework must be relevant to those with deep roots in the town - those who have lived its history and want the best for the town’s future. Team Catford has spent the last three and a half years listening carefully to local people and we believe this latest draft framework reflects how Catford’s community wishes the town centre to evolve.

“Our ambition is for Catford to be the greenest town centre in London. Nature will be prioritised to create a cleaner, healthier and a more sustainable town centre for the benefit of people, urban wildlife and ecology. The town centre will be vibrant, accessible and green - a place for future generations to feel welcome.

“Change has been talked about for many years and we share the community’s desire to see the positive progress and investment. The Council is prioritising key early projects that the community have said matter most - including the sensitive restoration of one of the oldest buildings in Catford and tangible improvements for pedestrians and cyclists in the area surrounding Catford and Catford Bridge stations – to give a better sense of arrival. These can begin as early as 2021.”

Focus on Lewisham 13 Lewisham Council appoints new Executive Director of Corporate Resources

Lewisham Council has appointed Kathy Freeman as Executive Director of Corporate Resources.

Previously at the London Borough of Camden as Director of Finance, Kathy has had a long and successful career in finance roles across London local authorities and joined Lewisham in September.

Starting her career as a trainee at the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) in Barking and Dagenham, she came back to rejoin as their Director of Finance. Kathy brings twenty years’ experience working in various roles across London including Head of Finance at the London Borough of Greenwich and City of London Corporation.

Kathy has lead innovative projects including establishing the first council-run private sector rent scheme which generates income back to the local authority. In her role as Director of Finance at London Borough of Camden, Kathy advised on the Community Investment Programme, which aims to deliver 3,050 homes.

Kathy Freeman said: “What drew me to apply for the role was Lewisham’s values about tackling social injustice and inequalities - these values align closely to my own. I’m struck by the ambition of the Mayor to continually build upon solid foundations to deliver the best outcomes for residents. I feel privileged and excited to be part of the team that aims to deliver on so many key objectives for Lewisham’s residents.”

Damien Egan, Mayor of Lewisham said: “I am delighted to welcome Kathy to Lewisham. At a time when council budgets are stretched more than ever with the double impact of austerity and COVID-19, it is very important that sound financial management remains at the heart of council’s work. Kathy has worked in London local government finance for two decades and we are looking forward to bringing her expertise to our team.”