Retail, culture and leisure

Orpington Town Centre is the Borough's second largest town centre. It is a Major Town Centre (identified in the Local Plan and the London Plan) and serves a large number of people, particularly the east of the Borough. The town centre has a significant amount of retail and leisure uses including a number of independents, and a successful market which operates three days a week. The Local Plan notes that new developments in Orpington Town Centre will be expected to contribute towards the function of the area as a Major Town Centre, notably through continuing strong retail, employment, leisure, service and civic functions. However, the Local Plan also notes that there is pressure from competing facilities such as the Nugent Shopping Park and the proximity of larger centres, such as Bromley Town Centre and Bluewater.

Town centres are traditionally areas where retail uses are focused, often in conjunction with leisure and cultural uses. However, town centres are changing across the country, due to the impact of online shopping and consumer demands, and also now as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Diversifying the town centre to reflect these changes in the retail environment is essential in order to ensure that the town centre can continue to be successful. There are many potential options, including encouragement of more small and independent operators, meanwhile (temporary uses) and markets.

Orpington Town Centre has a number of cultural and leisure facilities but there could be a stronger focus on such facilities in future; in addition, expansion of the night time economy could ensure that the town centre remains vibrant throughout the day and night.