Published Tuesday, 2nd August 2022

Initial designs for improvements to Horley High Street and subway have gone on display at Horley Library.

The improvements are part of a project to help the town centre better serve local people, make it more attractive and boost the local economy. The designs have been worked up based on feedback to the Council’s consultation on improvement ideas in the spring (2022).

The designs will make for an attractive, safer and greener town centre that reduces the dominance of the car and provides more space for people to enjoy. 

Initial proposal for Horley High Street, showing one way traffic, new cycle lane, wider pavements street trees and seating.Wider pavements and a dedicated cycle lane for cyclists travelling towards the precinct would make walking and cycling easier and safer. This, along with dropped kerbs will make the High Street more accessible for people with mobility difficulties or young children. The extra space created will provide allow for new seating areas, as well as opportunities for outside seating for businesses, such as cafes and restaurants, as well as more space for events. The plans also include new greenery, with street trees and planting areas known as ‘rainwater gardens’.

To enable this, a short stretch of the High Street from Albert Road to Consort Way East would become one-way for vehicles, existing disabled parking bays will be moved a short distance to either Albert Road and or Lumley Road and a new loading bay will be created for businesses

Enhancements to the subway will tackle the drainage issues and provide easier access for pedestrians, cyclists and people with disabilities. Improvements to its look and feel will make it a safer, well-lit and more welcoming space, for example with lighting, mirrors or art, and planting.

The display can be viewed at Horley Library in Russell Square, Victoria Road, Horley RH6 7QH until 12 September 2022 and on the Delivering Changein Horley Town Centre pages, along with feedback from the spring consultation.

Cllr Richard Biggs, Executive Member for Planning Policy and Place Delivery, said: “Thank you to everyone who responded to our consultation. The survey findings have helped to inform the development of the High Street and subway plans, as well as our discussions with partners as they progressed.

“These plans aim to help Horley town centre to evolve and adapt to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and the changing ways people shop and use their town centres, by better suiting the needs of those that use it, bringing benefits to local businesses and in turn boosting confidence in the town. They also recognise that High streets of the future need to consider the health and wellbeing of the communities as well as their economies.

“I hope the local community will welcome these proposals to create a more welcoming, safer high street that people want to visit and stay for longer.”

The projects are part of the Borough Council’s ‘Delivering Change in Horley Town Centre’ programme to deliver four interrelated projects which aim to attract more visitors and investment. It is being delivered in close partnership with Surrey County Council and is supported by Horley Town Council, and Horley Town Management Group and Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership.

On behalf of Horley Town Council, the Town Mayor and Council Chairman, Cllr Samantha Marshall said “The Town Council is very pleased to learn that that the Horley High Street public realm and Subway upgrade proposals are progressing well, including the design concepts which will be driven from important feedback received from the last public consultation. We understand that there will be further engagement on the more detailed designs in the autumn and we look forward with eager anticipation to receiving these updates as more plans unfold.

“These major improvement projects are vital for much needed rejuvenation of Horley town centre.  We remain steadfast in our approach to fully support the ultimate ambitions to create an authentic place that meets the needs and aspirations of residents; to welcome new enterprise to support economic growth; and to meet the perceptions of the local community to be able to live, work and sustain a good quality of life in Horley.”

The Delivering Change in Horley programme is funded through Reigate & Banstead Borough Council’s Capital Programme and Section 106 developer contributions from Surrey County Council, together totalling over £1.29m. It has also received £229,600 from Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership’s Local Growth Fund.

The Borough Council also continues to work with Surrey County Council, Horley Town Council and other partners on the community-led ‘Reimagining Horley’ project – a vision and a plan for the future of Horley town centre that reflects the aspirations of the local community, of which these schemes form a part.