Swan Walk in Horsham ‘step closer to reopening’ after approval of ‘netting solution’

Swan Walk has been shut since Monday, July 13, after a roof panel fell from the building.

Nobody was injured, but the centre has been closed as a precaution while investigations continued into the incident.

A select number of stores reopened on the weekend of Saturday, August 1.

In their latest update, the shopping centre revealed forensics and glazing consultants had ruled out ‘defective glazing’ as the root cause of the roof panel becoming dislodged.

Swan Walk confirmed that netting will be fitted ‘underneath all glazed areas’ – a ‘proven solution’ to the issue, according to a spokesperson.

The shopping centre added that once a ‘confirmed delivery timetable’ had been set for the new netting, they would be able to share further updates on ‘timings for a phased installation and reopening of the centre’.

A spokesperson for Swan Walk Shopping Centre said: “Swan Walk has announced that a proposed netting solution has been approved, taking the centre a step closer to reopening.

“Having worked closely with forensic and glazing consultants to establish the cause of the issue, we have been able to rule out defective glazing, with reports indicating that other external factors were involved. For health and safety reasons, it was essential to establish the root cause of the issue before progressing with any solution.

“Netting will be fitted underneath all glazed areas. This is a proven solution, existing in shopping centres elsewhere.

“We can confirm that the netting has been ordered and once we have a confirmed delivery timetable, we will be able to share further updates on timings for a phased installation and reopening of the centre as soon as we are able to. Our duty of care to all tenants, their staff and visitors to the centre remains our number one priority.

“In the interim M&S & Boots are open and accessible from Carfax entrance and TG Jones, The Post Office, Next, Toybarnhaus, Top Gift plus the customer toilets are also now open and accessed from the Swan Walk car park using the lifts and stairs into the centre. https://swanwalkshopping.co.uk/centre-info.

“We’d like to again thank our tenants, their staff and visitors to the centre for their ongoing support and understanding during this period. We’re also grateful to our town centre partners who have offered support to the Swan Walk tenants throughout this time.”