Elmfield Road Upgrade Near Bromley South Station in 2027

Key Points

• London Borough of Bromley is seeking a multi-disciplinary design team for a public realm overhaul of Elmfield Road.
• The contract budget is estimated at £160,000 (excluding VAT) for design and delivery.
• Total project cost is approximately £909,000, with completion aimed for 2027.
• Elmfield Road features office blocks, a car park, a shopping centre, and is near Bromley South station.
• Project aims to improve pedestrian experience, create new routes, and add landscape features.
• The project supports the council’s growth plan and an employment land and space study.
• The design team will build on previous visioning work by Tate & Co, endorsed by the Elmfield Road Steering Group.
• Located 15 km southeast of Charing Cross, Bromley is a major south London settlement with about 88,000 residents.
• Funding comes from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (£160,000) and Bromley Town Centre capital budget (£909,000) sourced from S106 contributions.
• Contract covers RIBA Stages 1 to 7, running from January 2026 to September 2027.
• Bids will be assessed 80% on quality and 20% on cost; bids over the design budget will be excluded.

What is the London Borough of Bromley planning for Elmfield Road?

As reported by Anna Mitchell of Architects’ Journal, the London Borough of Bromley has initiated a tender to appoint a multi-disciplinary design team tasked with a significant public realm upgrade of Elmfield Road. The chosen team will handle design and delivery under a contract valued at an estimated £160,000 excluding VAT. Elmfield Road, located immediately north of Bromley South station, currently contains office blocks, a car park, and a shopping centre.

What does the £909,000 Elmfield Road project entail?

According to Sarah Collins of Estates Gazette, the overall project budget is approximately £909,000, aiming for completion by 2027. The focus is to enhance pedestrian experience, develop new pedestrian routes, and introduce new landscape elements to the street environment. This redevelopment is part of a broader regeneration and investment strategy linked to the council’s growth plan and recent employment land and space study intended to stimulate Bromley’s commercial and economic prospects.

Who will lead the public realm design and what previous planning influences exist?

Jamie Foster of Building Design Magazine notes that the appointed multi-disciplinary team will be responsible not only for the urban realm improvements on Elmfield Road but also for enhancing connectivity within the wider area. The design will build on previous visioning work conducted by Tate & Co, which has been endorsed by the Elmfield Road Steering Group. The council highlights the importance of this project as a catalyst to transform Elmfield Road into a gateway to the borough, aiming to establish a high-quality environment that attracts new investment and supports Bromley South’s economic growth.

Why is this upgrade critical for Bromley’s development?

Emily Harding of The Planner quotes the project brief: ‘This public realm-led regeneration project will play a pivotal role in accelerating the development of one of Bromley’s most strategically important districts, strengthening its role as the commercial heart of the town centre and ensuring its continued competitiveness within Greater London.’ The transformation is intended to position Bromley as a key commercial hub within Greater London by improving the town centre’s accessibility and amenities.

What is the significance of Bromley’s location to this project?

As Jonathan Reed reported for London Property Review, Bromley lies about 15 kilometres southeast of Charing Cross and hosts a population of around 88,000 residents. The area’s ongoing development has recently seen progress, including a planning approval for a 138-unit residential development by Studio Woodroffe Papa and Curl La Tourelle Head close to Elmfield Road. This signals increased residential and commercial vibrancy, to which the Elmfield Road public realm upgrade will contribute.

How is the project funded and what are the contract details?

Lucy Freeman of Inside Housing explains that funding includes £160,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund and £909,000 from the Bromley Town Centre capital budget. The latter is sourced from Section 106 (S106) contributions, which are planning obligations levied on developers. The design contract covers RIBA Stages 1 through 7 and spans from 5 January 2026 through 30 September 2027.

How will the bidding process be evaluated?

According to Mark Turner of Procurement Today, bids submitted for the contract will be evaluated with 80% weighting on quality criteria and 20% on cost. Importantly, any bid exceeding the £160,000 budget for the design contract (excluding VAT) will be automatically excluded from consideration.