Future plans for historic town site go on display

Proposals to redevelop one of Horsham’s most historic sites went on display last week.
Prewetts Mill plan SUS-141124-115318001Prewetts Mill plan SUS-141124-115318001
Prewetts Mill plan SUS-141124-115318001

Plans for the future of Prewetts Mill, in Worthing Road, were on show at the Drill Hall, in Denne Road, last Thursday where members of the public were able to go down and see what the area could look like whilst giving feedback to developers.

McCarthy and Stone, which provides privately owned retirement properties, along with Somerset Care, which offers residential and nursing care for older people, are looking to develop the current site and turn the old building into assisted living accommodation with extra care facilities for people aged 70 and over.

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The project is being labelled ‘Your life’ and plans to create 57 new one- and two-bedroom flats including a lounge area for residents, a restaurant and laundry facilities.

The new building is set to be between five and six storeys high with staff living on site to help assist residents as they get older.

There are also proposals to create a new outside space next to the building as well plans to enhance the Riverside Walk that runs alongside the site.

Mike Alete, from Lewis and Hickey architects, has helped create the proposed plans. He said: “We have looked at it quite carefully.

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“It will really benefit the town as people are really let down by the current building.

“Hopefully it is something that makes the entrance to Horsham from the Worthing Road look better. We have had some good feedback today and it has been very beneficial to do this.”

McCarthy and Stone has previously had one-to-one meetings about the build with local councillors and residents who have raised concerns, with the main issue being the loss of part of the town’s history should the mill building be knocked down.

But Mr Alete said that it would not be beneficial to keep the old building if these proposals were to go ahead.

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He said “It was not designed for the office space they are using now and it is not designed for housing.

“The way we are looking at it is the benefits of taking it down would outweigh the benefits for keeping it up due to the complexity of the task.”

Nicol Stevenson, lives behind the proposed development in Home Stream House. He viewed the plans and said he was happy with what he had seen but still had a few concerns with the height of the build and parking.

He said: “I was quite surprised to see it has six storeys high as they had difficulty building Home Stream House three storeys up. They also have to make sure that there is enough parking and that vehicles have the right turning circles so they do not come into Home Stream House like many people do already.

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“It will also be sad to see the old building go but I suppose it has to go.”

Currently no planning permission has been submitted to Horsham District Council to redevelop the area.

Representatives at McCarthy and Stone have said once they have looked over the public’s comments they will consider preparing a planning application which could be submitted to the council in the new year.

Members of the public have until Thursday December 4 to leave their feedback.

The plans can be viewed at www.mccarthyandstone-consultation.co.uk/PrewettsMill and to give your feedback on the project visit [email protected] or call 0800 2987040.