The future of Orpington Town Centre

The COVID-19 pandemic has already led to significant impacts for town centres. Many businesses have struggled during lockdown and coupled with adapting to restrictions on re-opening, there is concern that the very survival of these businesses may be threatened.

Prior to the pandemic, the general role of town centres was shifting from largely retail-focused areas to more mixed-use retail, cultural and leisure areas, with a focus on creating functional and enjoyable civic spaces. This includes the introduction of residential uses into town centres and prioritising pedestrian use through improved sustainable transport links and public realm improvements.

With the focus now on planning for the recovery of town centres, there is an opportunity to embed this change to the core function of town centres to ensure that they can adapt and thrive.