Development managers for The Walnuts Shopping Centre site, Redcliff, have announced the first stage of engagement as they look to take forward redevelopment proposals.
Redcliff Cap Limited was previously known as Areli Finance Limited. Early engagement on the new project includes the delivery of a leaflet to 10,000 residences, the launch of a new website, and a public survey.
The Walnuts Orpington Project Team, said, "Following the withdrawal of a previous application in 2022, Redcliff have been appointed as the development managers for the site and have recently appointed a new team of consultants to lead on the designs. The team consists of 2C Architects, a practice local to Bromley, Montagu Evans, Elliot Wood and AND London."
"The project’s overall ambition is to transform the site into a socially and environmentally sustainable development with new, high-quality housing and a reimagined retail offer that is fit for purpose and designed for existing and future residents.
Over the next two months the new team intends to establish the Walnuts Working Group, "a demographically representative community liaison group with an emphasis on underrepresented groups." Two co-design workshops will be held with the group which you can apply to join at thewalnutsorpington.co.uk
The website says, "We have understood the issues and criticisms that the previous application faced, and we are working with the community from the earliest possible stage to co-create designs and plans for the site that will positively impact both people and place."
Two public engagement sessions in the Walnuts Shopping Centre on Saturday 21st October and Saturday 11th November from 12.00 to 16.00 have also been announced.
The Walnuts Leisure Centre and Saxon Day Centre no longer fall within the red line boundary for the site and the team have said that although no draft designs yet exist, the number of units and height of the proposals will be significantly less than previously. Since the withdrawal of the Areli application last year, Bromley Council has adopted the Orpington SPD (July 2023) which provides guidance on the interpretation of adopted planning policies as they relate to the Orpington Town Centre area.
A decision from Bromley Council on refurbishment of Orpington's Walnuts Leisure Centre is expected this month.