The former Bromley Civic Centre site on Stockwell Close is set to be redeveloped into 222 new homes after councillors unanimously approved the scheme, including refurbishment of the Grade II listed Bishop’s Palace and heritage repairs in Bromley Palace Park.
Planning Approval and Listed Building Consent were granted by Bromley Council’s Development Control Committee on Monday 1 June, subject to completion of a Section 106 legal agreement, planning conditions and any direction from the Mayor of London.
The decision clears the way for a major change at one of Bromley’s best-known civic sites, following the council’s move to Churchill Court at Bromley South in late 2024 and the sale of the former Civic Centre site to Galliard Homes.
Homes planned on Stockwell Close
The approved application covers a brownfield site at Stockwell Close and includes a mix of studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom homes.
The housing package includes 22 affordable homes, 25 wheelchair-accessible units and 37 later living properties. Six unlisted buildings on the wider site are due to be demolished and replaced as part of the redevelopment.
Parking provision will be limited to 38 car parking spaces, including 22 disabled spaces, alongside 331 cycle parking spaces. The council said that approach reflects London Plan policy aimed at reducing car parking in major town centres.
Parking and affordable housing were among the concerns considered by the committee, alongside responses from residents during the planning consultation. The consultation drew 138 objections.
Palace refurbishment and park access
The former Bishop’s Palace, also referred to as the Old Palace, will be refurbished for residential use under the approved plans. The Grade II listed building is expected to be treated in line with statutory protections for historic buildings.
The ground floor is also planned to include Class E commercial space, allowing public-facing uses such as a cafe, co-working space or community provision. That element is intended to keep part of the former palace site accessible beyond private residential use.
Public access to Bromley Palace Park will continue under the approved scheme and is expected to be protected through a legal agreement with the council.
Heritage work in Bromley Palace Park
The plans include a commitment of £806,000 for the restoration of four Heritage at Risk buildings and structures in Bromley Palace Park, including the Ice House.
That work is a key part of the approved package because the redevelopment affects a site with civic, architectural and public-space significance. The decision links new housing delivery with repairs to heritage assets that have been identified as at risk.
Councillor Alexa Michael, chairman of the Development Control Committee, said the proposal was a carefully planned scheme for a historic site and described the heritage restoration in the adjacent park as welcome.
She also said the application was a notable improvement on the previous scheme, which the committee had rejected. She added that councillors still had concerns, mainly over parking and the proportion of affordable housing, but said the committee should not let “the perfect be the enemy of the good”.
Conditions before work can proceed
The approval is not the final administrative step. The scheme remains subject to a Section 106 legal agreement, planning conditions and any direction from the Mayor of London.
Section 106 agreements are commonly used to secure planning obligations linked to a development, such as public access arrangements, infrastructure contributions or other site-specific commitments. In this case, the council has said continued public access to Bromley Palace Park will be protected by legal agreement.
Ward councillors were described as supportive of the application on balance. The Development Control Committee also considered the objections submitted through consultation before reaching its unanimous decision.
The outcome means the former Bromley Civic Centre site is now moving from council use toward a mixed residential and heritage-led redevelopment, with 222 homes planned on Stockwell Close and restoration funding tied to Bromley Palace Park.
Source: Bromley Council
Source check Source trail
This report is based on Bromley Council's published account of the Development Control Committee decision and the approved scheme details.
- Checked the number of homes, affordable homes, wheelchair units and later living propertie...
- Matched the location to the former Bromley Civic Centre site on Stockwell Close.
- Included the stated heritage commitments for Bishop's Palace and Bromley Palace Park.
- Separated the approval decision from remaining conditions, including the Section 106 agree...
- Source
- Bromley Council
- Scope
- Bromley
- Updated
- 2026-06-02 16:32
Source check
Report a trust issue
Send a clear signal to community moderation if the source, facts or context need review.
Comments