Crawley Town Centre Regeneration
English Partnerships and Crawley Borough Council are working together to bring forward a town centre regeneration programme. The purpose is to create a major retail-led mixed-use development aimed at enhancing the town’s regional role.
A consultancy team led by CB Richard Ellis identified an area to the north of the town centre as the most appropriate for expansion. They prepared a feasibility study to provide for:
- a high quality department store
- further retail opportunities
- residential accommodation
- offices
- civic uses
It is envisaged that the development will improve the social and economic facilities that Crawley will be able to offer. This will lead to environmental improvements and the provision of high quality buildings, particularly in the Boulevard area.
The proposals include improved public transport, cycle and pedestrian networks and provision for people using cars. All this will have to be carefully handled so that existing residential areas around the site are not significantly affected by the changes.
Public consultation
A Supplementary Planning Document outlining the opportunities and possible shape of the new town centre development has been open to public consultation and the responses to this are being assessed.
Further studies on transport and the potential relocation of Crawley Borough Town Hall are now being prepared.
The town centre north plans will be the subject of further consultation. If the feasibility plans and consultation determine that the town centre north expansion is viable, development could start as early as 2010.