Bromley Council has reversed its decision to close the Spitfire Youth Centre in Biggin Hill and will instead shut the Biggin Hill Children & Family Centre, relocating its services to the Spitfire site. The original plan, announced in early 2025, sought to move youth and family services from the Spitfire Centre in Church Lane to the Biggin Hill Children & Family Centre in Sunningvale Avenue, citing high maintenance and operational costs at the Spitfire site.
Community backlash and petition
The initial closure plan sparked significant opposition from the Biggin Hill community. A petition with nearly 2,500 signatures—representing about a fifth of the town's population—was presented to Bromley Council in May 2025. Despite this, the council maintained its stance, stating the Spitfire Centre would close and be placed on the open market.
At a council meeting in October 2025, Chris Hennis of the Spitfire Community Group urged the council to collaborate with the community to allow time for fundraising to purchase the centre. Councillor Yvonne Bear, Bromley's Executive Member for Renewal, Recreation & Housing, agreed to continue discussions with the group.
New proposal and rationale
Nine months later, the council has completely reversed its plan. According to reports for Bromley's Executive meeting on July 22, council officers surveyed the Sunningvale site and found insufficient space for the required extension to accommodate co-located services. Officers concluded that the Spitfire site is more suitable for youth services due to its proximity to amenities like the NHS Child Health Clinic, larger facility size, more parking, and better outdoor areas.
A modest in-fill extension of the existing building footprint has been proposed, which officers believe is unlikely to face planning rejection. Both the council's Property and Children & Youth Service teams support the new proposal, stating it will save money once the Sunningvale site closes and is declared surplus.
Community group response
The Spitfire Community Group, now operating as the Spitfire Community Project Community Interest Company (SCP CIC), welcomed the news but raised concerns. Chris Hennis, on behalf of SCP CIC, said: “At first glance, we welcome the decision to retain the Spitfire Youth Centre as a community building rather than dispose of the asset. However, we recognise that this proposal raises a number of important questions that need to be considered before its long-term impact can be fully understood.”
Hennis highlighted concerns about future community access, how wider groups will use the facility alongside the Family Centre, and the impact on existing users, staff, children, and families at the current Family Centre. SCP CIC plans to compile a response and questions for Bromley Council, and has invited community feedback via email at bigginspitfirecic@gmail.com.
If the Executive approves the report, council officers will begin consultation and develop a planning application for the extension.
