A new central library for Bromley

There is already a museum store on this site which will be demolished to be replaced by the new bespoke store with room to also house the archive collection currently stored in Bromley Central Library which needs to be relocated as part of the Central Library move.

A number of locations for the store were investigated across the borough with the old depot site being an ideal location with favourable ground conditions for the required building. This site was the only feasible option within the borough that achieved best value for council taxpayers. Other sites looked at within the borough would have required building over more than one floor increasing construction costs given the building load. The decision to relocate to this site was agreed by the Council's Executive, with a Planning application expected in due course.

The store is needed to protect important items of the borough’s local heritage. The council has a statutory (legal) duty to maintain an archive for the borough’s heritage, and the archive building must conform to prescribed standards in relation to security, fire and environmental controls.

The replacement archive and museum store will contain the existing Bromley historic collections which are not on display in Central Library. These objects and documents range from archaeological finds to artwork to objects from Bromley’s industrial and domestic history. All artefacts are linked to the borough either due to being from or found within the borough, or due to being linked to an eminent person from the borough. These are physical items that are important to the borough’s heritage. Whilst some of the collection has been digitalised, and the whole collection is catalogued, this improves access only and does not replace the requirement to look after the original object.

The council must provide new suitable accommodation for the archive, and this needs to happen now due to the upcoming relocation of Central Library which means the archive needs to move out of its existing store.

No public parkland is being used for the store, which will be located on the old depot site next to the park that is not accessible to the general public. An unrequired area of the old depot will also be greened and transferred into the public park as part of the proposed works.

Residents will be able to request to view stored items from the collection in exactly the same way that they can now. Most objects and documents requested to be viewed by the public will be brought to the Local Studies area at the Central Library. The archive store will not generally allow public access in order to keep the collection secure, but opportunities to view the facility will be made, for instance as part of the Open House Festival or Heritage Open Days.

Yes, as well as creating a tidier site in place of the underused depot building and container units, landscape improvements will also be delivered, including to the site’s border with the park, which represents further enhancement of the park for Orpington. New storage facilities for the community garden will also be provided to support the park’s Friends group. The store of the borough’s heritage in Orpington is also testament to the fascinating history that is found locally, shown clearly by nearby sites such as the Crofton Roman Villa.

There is not expected to be any noticeable increase in traffic to the new store compared to vehicle access that has been experienced in recent years. There is likely to be less traffic than when the depot was in operation.

Until recently the old depot was occupied by idverde, the council’s Green Spaces and Parks Contractor. However, the Parks service no longer require any use of the Priory depot facilities and will operate out of Beaverwood Depot instead.

The council must prioritise the use of our buildings to deliver statutory services, which includes maintaining an archive of the borough’s heritage, with the proposals representing best value for council taxpayers in providing these services. Cafes and crèches are not statutory services, and the council is not given funding to provide such facilities. However, the new archive store does not prevent any future improvements to the adjacent park.

There will be no reduction in the community planted area, which will remain on site with new storage facilities also being provided. There will be a separate secure gate for the Friend’s group to access the garden.

You can view and comment on the proposed store online and two engagement sessions at the depot site on:

• Wednesday 18 June 2025 at 12pm to 2pm
• Saturday 21 June 2025 at 10am to 12pm