Blockbusters Site
New future for former Blockbuster site
With the premises having stood empty for a number of years, the London Borough of Bexley recently acquired 106 High Street, Sidcup to ensure it comes forward for redevelopment.
The Council can now confirm that it is progressing the idea of attracting a picture house operator to the site, as well as co-locating Sidcup Library to what is a more central position in the town.
Cllr Linda Bailey, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Growth said: “It is still early days, but we know that retail habits are changing and that people come to places like Sidcup to visit the fantastic independent traders and meet up with friends. So we want to create new destinations here and across our borough that will ensure local residents enjoy our high streets and that local businesses thrive.
“In the coming weeks, we will be going to the market to find a picture house operator to work with us. We will also start thinking about how the site might operate in practice. We hope to have more news by Christmas.”
Cllr Peter Craske, Member for Community Safety, Environment and Leisure, added: “We already have a great library service in Bexley that we can all be proud of, but it is important that we continue to look for new opportunities. Moving Sidcup Library to this central location, on a shared site with a picture house, would put it right in the heart of the town.
“In Sidcup, we already have a thriving cultural offer with our two brilliant Colleges: Bird and Rose Bruford. A picture house would be great for their students and the wider community. The site we have in mind has good transport links and car parks nearby. I am really excited by the idea of getting a picture house back in the town and I really hope we can pull it off.”
There are no plans for the current library site at present. Should the relocation plans go ahead, given the general residential nature of Hadlow Road it is likely the site would be redeveloped for that purpose.
