Transform Leatherhead progress
The aim of TL was to recognise that Leatherhead had been neglected by years of Conservative leadership at MVDC and that if the town was not to continue a steady decline, investment was needed with a focus on housing needs, supporting local businesses and providing facilities which meet residents’ needs.
The planning application reflects the shift in recent years in how town centres are used, with a greater focus on leisure activities and food and beverage outlets, while increasing footfall in Leatherhead by providing for new sustainable housing, office space and community facilities.
The scheme also responds to strong community feedback given during Local Plan consultations in 2020 and 2021, where residents supported a “brownfield first” approach in order to protect green belt sites in Leatherhead such as the Barnett Wood Allotments and the meadow behind Randalls Road. With approximately 80% of Mole Valley designated green belt or AONB, town-centre sites (such as Bull Hill, a brownfield site) are key to meeting housing needs. Since the Local Plan was adopted, Labour Government National policy changes have proposed increased housing targets which would make it even harder for local councils to meet national housing targets. In MVDC the target is proposed to rise from 336 per year (approved Local Plan figure in 2024) to 757 per year. This further reinforces the need for efficient, higher-density development close to transport links like Leatherhead station to avoid building in AONB areas. High density development near train stations are now being prioritised by the Labour government.
The proposals have undergone extensive consultation, and amendments as a result of resident feedback. Following the 1st stage consultation a proposed hotel was removed from the scheme, the park was repositioned, the proposed pond was removed and higher buildings were relocated to less sensitive areas, such as next to the railway embankment. Further changes were made following the 2nd consultation to remove bulk around the proposed townhouses, next to the conservation area, where the buildings will be lower in height than the existing Fairmount House.
Importantly, the Bull Hill development:
- funds the full refurbishment of the Swan Centre, (an estimated investment of £12 million), with improvements to shop frontages, landscaping, creation of a central marketplace area and the introduction of a 3 screen cinema
- would be expected to generate over £13m in developer infrastructure contributions (made up of £7.9m in Community Infrastructure Levy payments, £1.8m in s.106 payments and £3.6m in Highway improvements. Examples of how CIL is being spent / proposed to be spent is the new 3G pitch at Therfield School, a new riverside children’s play area next to the Leisure Centre and the fit out of a GP surgery on Bull Hill.
- Highway improvements to include the widening of pavements, creation of new bus stops, additional crossing points into the town centre and service laybys for Bull Hill
- would provide over 80 affordable homes in a District where over 650 families and individuals are on a housing waiting list
- Creates a new, net-zero office space, aimed at bringing major businesses back into Leatherhead to support the day-time economy in Leatherhead
- would create a larger play area in the Central Park, alongside the planting of over 130 trees
- improved cycling routes and well-lit walking routes from the railway station into the town to address safety concerns in the park;
- attenuation tanks and SUDS expected to improve the risk of flooding in the area
- a multi-story car park to provide parking for residents, office users and visitors, in addition to the 100 parking spaces proposed at Leatherhead Station as part of the Local Plan
- provides space for a new GP surgery
- will create jobs for young people throughout the build, investing in their futures. Over 1200 jobs are expected to be created during the build.
After years of detailed work, the planning application proposes a £285m investment into the future of Leatherhead, delivering Local Plan requirements, affordable housing and town-centre renewal in one scheme. The process of achieving a scheme which meets all of these competing demands, while in addition retaining open space, parking, providing community facilities etc, inevitably involves compromises. However it is clear that this planning application offers the strongest opportunity to revitalise Leatherhead and secure a positive future for the town.
