Plans – Bad and Good for the old Civic Centre

Posted on 13 January 2026 by campaignr

Development of the old Civic Centre – now to be called Bishop’s Place.

Details of the proposals can be seen on the planning application: 25/05307/FPA

The consultation deadline has officially passed but not to worry – there’s still plenty of time to make comments before it is considered by Bromley Council.

There is much to be WELCOMED about the proposals:

  • the height of new buildings are limited to 5 storeys;
  • views of the Palace from the Park are improved by the setting back of the new buildings and extensions to areas of open space available to the public;
  • access to the Palace Park is improved with designated landscaped routes shown from Rochester Avenue and from Stockwell Close.

The points of CONCERN are:

  • uncertainty over the ground floor use of the Palace and how the public will have access, especially to front entrance hall (the most profitable and likely outcome is to be carved into flats);
  • the impact of new development on the listed Fernery near to the St Blaise’s well (drying out for sinking foundations may cause collapse, the water source for the park severed);
  • the design of the new build does not seem to of great architectural merit (it could be anywhere in the country, not next to a Bishops Palace);
  • fencing security for the Park generally;
  • the protection of trees within the site (the ash trees, which turn crimson in the autumn are said to be replaced by a ‘modern’ planting); and
  • overlooking of properties in Rochester Avenue;
  • disruption caused by delivery and service vehicles through the development;
  • the low provision, 10%, of affordable housing (other local sites have rescinded this on grounds of viability);
  • Balconies overhang the path along the moat, the building is much larger than the one it replaces and will be overbearing and overshadow half of the park.

The ‘state rooms’ of the palace, that could be converted into flats:

Elegant room with green panelling and fine fireplace
Fine panelling and elegant fireplace in this State Room of the Old Bishops Palace.
Fireplace with stone surrounds
Fireplace in the entrance hall
Impressive wooden staircase
The Entrance Hall and main Staircase
White washed colonnade with clear roof
The Colonnade overlooking the lawn.
Carving of putti in a classical scene
Carving of putti in a classical scene, from a doorway pediment in the Entrance Hall.
White fireplace with bishops mitres picked out
1790s fireplace with the Bishop’s mitre and diocese coat of arms picked out.
carving of two hops
Hops carved into the main staircase. Coles-Child prided himself on being the first to get this cash crop to the hop exchange in London, every year.

The crimson ash trees that could be replaced by a ‘modern planting’:

Bishops Palace and courtyard from the front. Lined by Crimson Ash trees

The two-storey building that will turn into 5/6 storeys with balconies over the north path:

Drawing supplied by the developers, Galliard:

Block plan from the planning application:

And a plan for the trees. The ones in red look like being removed. The ones in grey are not deemed worthy:

The plans for redeveloping the old civic centre site are now submitted, and the areas of concern include the State Rooms, courtyard ash trees, overshadowing of the park.
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