2 February 2011

Please note: this news article is in our archive. Articles were correct at time of publication, but should not be relied on for accuracy after the passage of time.

TOWN Councillors received copies of the Station Quarter Master Plan, produced by Optimum Consultancy, at a presentation in January. The Plan can be viewed by clicking on the Notice Board pages of this site.

Neil Bowsher and his colleagues Dan Accorsi, Ron Terry and Mike Goddard presented the Plan and answered questions at last month’s meeting of the Public Services committee, which was also attended by representatives from West Sussex County Council and Mid Sussex District Council.

They told councillors that Optimum regards the development of the Station Quarter both as “an exciting opportunity” in its own right, and one which they hope will inspire landowners and local authorities alike to progress other much-needed developments in adjacent areas.

For the purposes of the Station Quarter development, the site was divided into three key parts – the station area itself; the land to the west of the railway line which includes the high level car park and surrounding area, including land owned by Sustrans; and the area to the east of the Station site including the western end of Railway Approach and the commercial area immediately to the north of the A22 Beeching Way.

The proposals for zone 1 and the station forecourt will provide for a new car park with a closer association with the station, all parking in a single area, with linkage from the car park to the pedestrian bridge link and west of the rail track.

The key developments will include a remodelled station forecourt area, enhanced bus interchange and the development of a landmark building (a new hotel with café, bar and restaurant facilities was identified) with minor residential use.

The zone 2 proposals provide for residential use with the relocation of the existing car parking, and zone 3 proposals include both a potential residential solution and meaningful commercial opportunities which might, if commercially attractive, result in the relocation of the petrol station if the landowner felt this could be beneficial.
The scheme would also allow for some realignment of the relief road as it comes into Station Road, which would create more commercially viable parcels of land for development.

Replying to the presentation, councillors welcomed the plan and thanked the consultants for their work on it.

They recognised that the current economic climate is not altogether favourable for major schemes, but felt the plan would offer real opportunities for ambitious landowners, including Network Rail, the County Council, Sustrans and the commercial sector, when the economy picks up.

They also agreed that the work on the Station Quarter Master Plan could be embraced within a future Neighbourhood Plan, which would need to be produced in accordance with planning guidance and in conformity with the Local Development Framework, and that this tied in well with the Localism agenda which would be the subject of “extensive public engagement and consultation”.

Note: Grateful thanks are recorded to Graham Flight, Chairman of Bluebell Railway plc for permission to use his photograph on page 2 of the Plan. He retains copyright of the photograph, which is not to be reproduced without his express permission in writing.