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You are here: Home > News > Horley revitalisation

Revamp for Horley Town Centre a step closer

News release dated 7 March 2005 about Horley Town Centre's revamp.

Horley Town Centre’s proposed revamp took a big step forward after the Borough Council's Executive Committee last night (3 March 2005) gave the go-ahead to publish proposals for the Horley Town Centre revitalisation.

A town square, tree lined boulevards and street cafes could become a feature of the new look town centre.

The plans unveiled last night involve creating a thriving town centre by developing shops and offices to complement those that already exist.

Proposals

Some of the other proposals include

• improvements to the appearance of the town
• creating public spaces
• installing street lighting and planting new trees;
• developing a more vibrant town by enhancing leisure facilities and the town's evening economy
• better provision for the needs of community, with more shops and services that appeal to young people and families
• improving first impressions for those coming into the town
• improving access, especially east to west and
• providing more housing in the town centre. 

More spending power

Cllr Roger Newstead, Executive Member for Local Economy said: "Major areas of housing proposed for the Horley's northern edges will increase the town’s population by some 30 per cent.

"This will increase the footfall and spending power in the town centre, which will help to make the town centre more attractive for businesses.

"As a result, there is a great opportunity for the County, Borough and Town Councils to work together to rejuvenate the town centre and place it on a secure footing for the future.

"Publishing these proposals for public consultation is an important step towards the improvements that Horley town centre needs and deserves. 

"I would urge everyone with an interest in Horley - residents, local businesses and visitors to the town alike - to have their say on the proposals.

"Comments from this consultation can then be taken into account when finalising the regeneration plans."

Strategy

In June 2004 the Borough Council in partnership with Surrey County Council and Horley Town Council appointed an urban design consultancy, Roger Evans Associates, to provide a comprehensive development strategy and urban design framework for Horley Town Centre to guide the gradual regeneration over the next 15 to 20 years.

A task group was set up to manage the revitalisation project with representatives from the Borough, County and Town Councils, Horley Chamber of Commerce, Horley Town Centre Management Group and the consultants, Roger Evans Associates.

As a first step an Ideas Workshop was held in July, attended by key community representatives from private and public sector organisations and interest groups.

The event provided a great deal of useful information such as community aspirations, perceptions of Horley and invaluable local knowledge, which the consultants took into consideration when drawing up the current proposals. 

As part of their study the Roger Evans Associates have developed an overall framework for the regeneration as well and identified specific key sites for development to attract new investment into the centre.

This will be allied to environmental enhancements and measures to improve access across the railway line.

Key themes

The Urban Design Framework identifies a number of key themes for Horley town centre’s future:

• intensify activity in Horley to create a long-term sustainable town centre; 
• fortify Horley’s role as a local centre; allow Horley to perform in a more targeted and specialised way to provide for the local community’s varied needs;
• harness Horley’s proximity to Gatwick to enable Horley to offer the ‘vibrant, compact town’; 
• improve Horley’s sense of place & distinction by encouraging residents and visitors to Horley to become aware of the special character and history of the town. 

The plans will go on display at an exhibition in Horley and on the website later this month for the public to comment. 

Following the consultation a report will go back to the Executive with a package of proposals for final approval. The proposals will then go forward as a Supplementary Planning Document in the Borough’s new Local Development Framework.