Bromley Scout HQ, London - Community Hall refurbishment (008367)

23rd Bromley Scout Group provides young people with activities and challenges to enjoy whilst helping develop a strong sense of community. The HQ, which is over 50 years old and has reached the point of needing some attention to be able to continue to be a safe, inviting and comfortable environment for the community. The project plans to improve access to the hall, install additional toilets and renovate the kitchen area in addition to general refurbishment of the main hall.

Currently the premises does not fully meet the requirements of the hall users, as it does not have an accessible entrance and there are not enough toilet facilities for female members.

The improvement project has been developed over the past few years in consultation with the local community. Updated planning permission was granted by Bromley Council in Sept 2025.

AIM 1: To ensure the HQ is accessible to all, providing safer and independent access for hall users/parents with limited mobility and families with pushchairs. Currently a unwieldy portable ramp is used for those with limited mobility and need advance notice to set it up. The updated project design ensure safety whilst remaining cost effective.

AIM 2: Improve toilet facilities for females. Currently a single accessible toilet is shared by all disabled and female visitors. This is disruptive for Leaders who are running section meetings and inconvenient for guests at community events. Surveys of external hall users returned considerable criticism of the toilet facilities.

AIM 3: Refurbish the kitchen area to facilitate Aim 2 whilst retaining a vital food preparation area.

AIM 4: Redecorate the hall and existing toilets, making the HQ more attractive to members of the group and community groups who use the hall

AIM 5: Improve biodiversity and conservation in the HQ grounds.