Mayor unveils transformed Orpington town centre

A major redesign of Orpington High Street was unveiled today by Mayor Boris Johnson, as part of his Great Outdoors programme to transform public spaces across the capital.

Orpington High Street is one of more than 50 public spaces to benefit from funding through the Mayor's £220million Great Outdoors initiative, set up to help improve streets, parks and squares of all shapes and sizes around London. Today the Mayor visited, to see first hand, the high street's metamorphosis from a tired, traffic-filled town centre to an attractive, safer, greener space.

The Mayor was joined by his brother and newly elected Orpington MP Jo Johnson, and Bromley Mayor, Councillor George Taylor, to see how the high street has been transformed with coloured paving, extensive de-cluttering and wider footpaths to make the town centre more pedestrian friendly. The Mayor planted a commemorative tree before going on to meet local business representatives and residents to discuss the renovations.

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson said:

“This is a great example of where good design can reinvent and revitalise a street which previously pitted pedestrian against driver. Now it encourages both to respect each other in a new, attractive and safe environment.

“The high street now feels like a really nice place to spend some time as well as shop and I am confident that improvements like these will increase business for local traders as people are attracted to this impressive and transformed town centre - this is just the sort of project my Great Outdoors programme was established to support.”

Councillor Stephen Carr, leader of Bromley Council, said: “These major changes to the High Street underline our commitment to improve town centres and ensuring the outdoor space is best used is part of this approach.

“The Mayor of London’s approach on this is welcome. We are Building a Better Bromley and playing our part to ensure that Bromley remains an enticing place for business and investment.

“We have a long term vision and we are determined to ensure that further improvements will make Orpington even more competitive, benefiting local residents and businesses.”

The £2.2million project was funded by £1.2 million from Transport for London and £1 million from Bromley Council's Capital Programme.

ENDS

Notes to Editors

1. ‘London's Great Outdoors - A Manifesto for Public Space’ is supported by two practical guides, ‘Better Streets’ and ‘Better Green and Water Spaces’. Together they set out the Mayor of London’s vision for improving public spaces in London. This will ensure that our streets, squares, parks and green and water spaces are fit for a great world city, are enjoyed by everyone who visits them and most importantly, help improve the quality of life in the capital.

They are accompanied by an implementation plan that will see £220 million invested in over 50 public realm improvement projects over the next three years, funding for which comes from Transport for London, The London Development Agency and London’s boroughs as well as other sources. The measures include redesigned streets, which can be shared by both the pedestrians and vehicles and reclaimed derelict green spaces and underused waterways.

The manifesto and guides have been written and produced by the Greater London Authority, London Development Agency, Design for London and Transport for London. For further information please go to www.london.gov.uk/greatoutdoors

2. The Orpington Town Centre improvements are in line with the principles outlined in the Better Streets document, with extensive de-cluttering being undertaken alongside other public realm measures such as footway widening and the installation of high quality coloured block paving. The improvement of access and safety for those with disabilities is paramount and the measures will result in a reduction in vehicle speeds.

MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Press information is available from Richard Brookes and Elizabeth Lee on 020 7983 4750/4713 or by emailing economicdesk@london.gov.uk
GENERAL PUBLIC/NON-MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Call the Public Liaison Unit at the Greater London Authority on 020 7983 4100
DUTY PRESS OFFICER: For out-of-hours media enquiries, please call 020 7983 4000