Heritage Centre Update

The Project. Since the RAF withdrew from Biggin Hill in 1992, it has been the aim of Bromley Council, as well as several local groups, to provide a reminder of this historic site.The story will cover not only the vital period in 1940, when the fighters of the RAF stood in the front line, but also the complete history of the airfield,from 1916, when Bristol Fighters and wireless telegraphy played a major roll in the defence of London.

January 2012 The Biggin Hill Battle of Britain Heritage Trust's fund raiser, Kevin Drugan has been in place for nearly four months. He  has been busy getting things in readiness for the fund raising push. You may well ask 'Why is he not out there collecting funds?' The answer is before the Trust can approach significant sponsors, the Business plan and costings have to be completed. A design brief is being prepared to develop the very basic specification which went to Bromley Planning for the original Planning permission ( which will need to be renewed this year) and for detailed architect design, and for a detailed regulation building approval. Once complete these will be submitted to Borough planning to ascertain if they need supplementary application or if they are satisfied that there is no real material change to the substance of the original application; this is now well under way

The possibility of a Heritage Fund Lottery Grant. The fund raiser has been busy and the site has been visited by a representative of the Heritage Lottery Fund in what are the very early stages of the application. Dependant upon that visit, the application will or won't be made.

February 2012 Bromley Council is to release funding worth £64,000 for the Heritage Centre Action Plan. Reported on the front page of The Biggin Hill News 9 February. Bromley's executive met last week to approve cash to fund a detailed business plan for the project.