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You are here: Home > News > Multi-million Preston regeneration a step closer

Multi-million Preston regeneration a step closer

News release dated 1 October about progress with the regeneration of the Preston area.

The multi-million pound regeneration of the Preston estate has moved a step closer after Reigate & Banstead Borough Council signed up to an agreement last night (Thursday 27 September 2007) aimed at progressing the regeneration plans for the area.

The Council’s Executive agreed to sign a Statement Of Intent which sets out how much money each authority is planning to commit to the regeneration of Preston, and the types of improvements which will be funded. The Statement of Intent also has to be signed by Surrey County Council.

Once the Statement of Intent is approved, both Councils will be working closely with the community and other partners such as Raven Housing Trust to take forward the regeneration plans.

Cllr Dr Daniel Poulter, Reigate and Banstead Borough Council’s Executive Member for Regeneration and Transport, said: "Looking after the most deprived areas of the borough is a priority for the Council. Through the regeneration process we aim to improve the physical environment of the Preston estate and tackle the many social and deprivation problems that exist there. This is a project that aims to improve the Preston estate and the quality of life for its residents over a number of years. We will be working closely with the Preston community to address this. £26.5m has already been identified for the regeneration of Preston, including contributions from the Borough Council, Surrey County Council and Raven Housing Trust."

The regeneration proposals include improvements to public and open space which will be achieved through measures to reduce parking and traffic flow problems; comprehensive improvements to key streets; landscaping; a better footpath network; and modifications to open spaces to make them safer and encourage use. There is also potential to develop the three ponds as local amenities and attractions.

A new ‘village centre’ or hub

At the heart of this reinvigorated community, in the vicinity of the existing leisure centre, will be a mixed-use neighbourhood centre or hub, incorporating Reigate and Banstead Borough Council’s new leisure centre for the north of the borough, youth facilities, a hall and meeting rooms for hire (at affordable rates for community groups on low budgets), small scale local retail outlets, and a community/internet café.

Environmentally Sustainable Development

All development will meet high standards of environmental sustainability. Reigate and Banstead Borough Council secured funding through central government to look at how to make the Preston estate more environmentally friendly. A pilot project to make existing flats use less water is already underway. The work includes:

• fitting showers and state of the art toilets (which use 50% less water to flush than a standard new toilet) to 160 houses and flats,
• innovative work to collect and recycle rainwater for toilet flushing and running washing machines,
• offering vouchers to local residents to buy a washing machine that uses water and energy very efficiently.

Alongside this, an Education Officer (Alister Peters) has been employed by Raven Housing Trust to work with local schools and residents to involve the community in water conservation projects. The government’s money has also funded research to look at how best to make the new housing which is planned for the De Burgh site and the new community hub highly energy efficient.

Housing Improvements

The regeneration will include new housing – for private ownership, part ownership and affordable renting – and improvements to existing homes.

Economic and Community Regeneration Benefits

New local jobs will be created (for example in construction and arising from new facilities in the hub). An enhanced network of footpaths and cycle routes and possible improvements to local bus services will also potentially improve access to employment opportunities.