Description:

The Government hearing into the Area Action Plan for Bromley Town Centre is due to get underway in March.  The AAP is a 15 year plan which includes a full redesign of the town centre including a cinema and hotel complex, and thousands of new homes.  The project includes intentions to upgrade up to 14 different sites and could create up to 2,000 jobs in the borough.

As well as the housing and hotel complex, the intentions also include new bars & restaurants, shops and office space.  Some of these will be made up by a planned extension to the Glades Shopping Centre.

Transport links are also included in the 15 year plan and upgrades and moderisation of both Bromley South and Bromley North railway stations is also an intention.

Eight days are being scheduled for the public hearing but according to inspector Eric Searles at yesterdays pre hearing meeting this process could take much longer due to the need for full site visits.  A final decision on the AAP is expected in Summer 2010.

There are controversies surrounding the plan, one of which is the planned block of flats next door to the Bromley College building, which is Grade I listed.  The most vocal opponents of the scheme have been the Bromley Civic Society, who have advised their fears of "the demolition of Bromley on an unprecedented scale", and fear that aspects of the plans are "unsound".

The hearing is open to the public and will take place at the Civic Centre in Stockwell Close, Bromley, on 30th March.