Delivering Change in Horley
Background
The Delivering Change in Horley Town Centre programme is a series of interrelated projects that aim to deliver an improved town centre to meet the needs of our communities: supporting economic prosperity and providing a safe, welcoming and healthy environment for residents and visitors.
The programme is a partnership between Surrey County Council (SCC), and Reigate and Banstead Borough Council (RBBC), with key support from Horley Town Council, Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership, Network Rail and the UK Government.
There are four current projects that form the programme:
- High Street public realm improvements
- Refurbishing the pedestrian subway between the High Street and Station Approach
- Town Centre Pedestrian Wayfinding
- Improvements to Central Car Park (Funded and delivered fully by Reigate and Banstead Borough Council)
The projects are funded by a range of sources, with the overall £3 million budget made up of SCC and RBBC capital investment; RBBC Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (SCIL) funding; Section 106 Developer Contributions; and grants from the Local Enterprise Partnership and UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Expected timeline
- Spring 2025, Wayfinding signages installation
- Summer 2025. High Street public realm improvements (for approx. six months)
High Street public realm improvements
Building on the public realm improvements delivered in the pedestrian precinct in 2019, this part of the programme will be concentrated along the High Street, between the precinct and the pedestrian bridge over the railway. The aim is a coordinated and comprehensive series of improvements to create a more attractive and vibrant High Street.
Key features of the High Street works include:
- Make the High Street one-way for motor vehicles, to open up space for pedestrians, and improve safety and accessibility of the High Street for visitors and residents
- Improve accessibility and pedestrian safety by widening footpaths, adding pedestrian crossings, and allowing businesses to open out into the High Street
- Introduce new planting and trees to improve the landscape/ streetscape of the area and provide environmental benefits
- Provide new public street furniture to allow visitors to socialise and relax in the improved area of public realm
- Install a segregated contraflow cycleway facility to enable a safe and convenient two-way use of the High Street for cyclists on the National Cycle Route
The improvement works will help ensure the High Street is a welcoming, safe and healthy place that meets the needs of local residents and visitors. The project aims to attract and retain visitors to the town centre, helping to support a vibrant and viable local economy into the future.
The final designs for the works are almost complete and will be made available to view soon. Delivery of the works will start in 2025, with timescales for construction to be advertised in due course.
Town Centre pedestrian wayfinding
Following on from work undertaken by Horley Town Council, we have designed a pedestrian wayfinding strategy for Horley Town Centre that will help visitors navigate around the town and the amenities that Horley has to offer.
The project will involve the installation of a range of map-based signs across the town centre, located at key arrival and decision points. Sign locations include the public car parks, the rail station, the High Street, the footbridge between High Street and Station Approach, and locations on Victoria Road. Alongside delivering the signage, we will be undertaking some decluttering across the town centre including the removal of redundant signposts and excess furniture.
Design work has been completed and a contract is in place with a supplier to manufacture the signs. Installation of the signages is anticipated to commence early in 2025. No major disruption to road traffic is expected
Refurbishing the pedestrian subway between the High Street and Station Approach
Surrey County Council and Reigate and Banstead Borough Council are working together alongside Network Rail to deliver a range of improvements to the pedestrian subway between High Street and Station Approach.
There are four main elements proposed for the subway project:
- Network Rail drainage improvements to reduce historic flooding issues in the subway – Network Rail are responsible for the delivery of this work and commenced construction in July 2024. New drainage infrastructure, including pumps to remove water from the subway, have been installed. Unforeseen circumstances delayed the full reopening of the subway and commissioning of the installed pumps, and temporary pumps are currently in operation. Please see Network Rail communications for updates on this project.
- Network Rail structural works to the track, that will require closure of the subway over Christmas 2024. This work is being undertaken as part of Network Rail's capital programme. Network Rail have advised that the subway closure is anticipated to be required for approximately five weeks. Please see Network Rail communications for updates on this project.
- SCC/ RBBC subway refurbishment works will include improvements to the entrance to the subway on the High Street side, improved lighting, redecoration, footway improvements and public art. Designs for the refurbishment are currently under review in consultation with Network Rail. Timescales for delivery of these works will be confirmed following the completion of Network Rail's works and confirmation from Network Rail of authority to proceed with our proposals. The latest designs for the subway refurbishment works can be found on the Reigate and Banstead website.
Improvements to Central Car Park
The improvements to Horley Central Car Park are funded and delivered fully by Reigate and Banstead Borough Council. More information is available on the Reigate and Banstead website.
Project costs and funding
The total estimated cost of the programme is approximately £3 million. The programme is fully funded through a variety of funding sources. Allocations from Reigate and Banstead Borough Council's capital programme and Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy together total £1.22 million; £1.1million capital investment is provided by Surrey County Council as part of the Surrey Infrastructure Plan. Developer contributions (£600,000) and grant funding from the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership, UK Government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund and High Street Innovation Fund make up the remainder of the required funding.
Engaging the community
We have been working closely with Reigate and Banstead Borough Council and Horley Town Council, leveraging different public and community platforms, to cascade information about the Horley town centre improvement works, so that residents and businesses are kept informed of the latest updates.
There have been different engagement exercises since 2022. More information about the materials, plans and proposals communicated over the years are available from the Delivering Change in Horley Town Centre page on the Reigate and Banstead website.
- Engagement on art in the subway (May 2023)
- Engagement on High Street and Subway detailed designs (February 2023)
- Engagement on High Street and Subway initial designs (Autumn 2022)
- Summary report of engagement in Spring 2022
- Engagement on initial proposals (Spring 2022)
