Bromley Civic Centre
| Bromley Civic Centre | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Bromley Civic Centre | |
| Location | Bromley |
| Coordinates | 51°23′57″N 0°00′59″E / 51.3992°N 0.0165°E |
| Built | 1988 |
| Architectural style(s) | Modern style |
  Shown in Bromley | |
Bromley Civic Centre is a municipal building in Westmoreland Road, Bromley, London. The building currently serves as the headquarters of Bromley London Borough Council.
History
[edit]The building was commissioned to serve as the administrative headquarters of the insurance business, Churchill Insurance.[1] The site the company selected was on the corner of Westmoreland Road and Bromley High street, just to the south of Bromley South railway station.[2]
The building was designed in the modern style, built in red brick and glass, and was completed in 1988.[1] The layout involved a semi-circular four-storey block, clad in red brick, and a taller tower block, clad in glass, behind. The tower block featured a recessed glass entrance in the northeast corner, accessible from Bromley High Street.[3]
Churchill Insurance was acquired by Royal Bank of Scotland Group in June 2003,[4] and was integrated into Direct Line Group when Direct Line Group was demerged from Royal Bank of Scotland Group in October 2013.[5] The building then became the headquarters of Direct Line Group.[6] In May 2023, Direct Line Group announced that it would be relating to Riverbank House in the City of London.[7] This left Churchill Court vacant and Bromley London Borough Council decided to take the opportunity to sell its Grade II listed offices at Bromley Palace, which needed extensive refurbishment,[8][9] and acquire Churchill Court instead.[10][11]
After the completion of an extensive programme of refurbishment works, which included the creation of new public areas, a council chamber and a mayoral suite as well as external landscaping,[12] the council moved into Churchill Court in December 2024.[13] It has said that it intends to rent out any surplus space in its new headquarters.[14]
References
[edit]- ^ a b "Direct Line Group moves to the heart of London". Direct Line Group. 15 May 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Ordnance Survey Map". 1900. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Work Place". Invest Bromley. 2013. p. 33. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ Andrew Cave (12 June 2003). "Royal Bank buys Churchill for £1.1 billion". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Direct Line IPO 'priced to go' at 175p". The Telegraph. 11 October 2012. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Direct Line Group". Insurance Business Magazine. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Direct Line Group moves to the heart of London". The Coverager. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Bromley Council to sell Grade II listed HQ after receiving huge bill". News Shopper. 9 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Bromley Council civic centre sale confirmed". News Shopper. 23 July 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Bromley Council confirm purchase of new civic centre at Churchill Court". Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Bromley Council agrees to sell its offices and move to Churchill Court". News Shopper. 14 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Ground-breaking at Churchill Court". Neilcott. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Civic Centre". Bromley London Borough Council. Retrieved 20 December 2024.
- ^ "Bromley Council: Concerns for financial viability of office". News Shopper. 9 October 2024. Retrieved 20 December 2024.