Horsham Society: Premier renewal

Hurst Road is a significant yet underappreciated thoroughfare in Horsham, running along the north side of Horsham Park and linking the station to North Parade. Despite its functional importance—historically housing key public institutions such as the post office, courts, police, fire station, and hospital—the road is largely overlooked in the town’s urban narrative. This neglect is partly due to the physical barriers created by the park and the intrusive dual carriageway of Albion Way, which has prevented Hurst Road from becoming a central axis in the town’s layout.

Recent years have seen significant changes. The relocation or renewal of public institutions once suggested a possible reconfiguration of the area, aligning it more closely with the everyday urban life of Horsham. Apartment conversions have occurred, and a supermarket opened north of the railway. Other blocks down North Street have also been transformed into residential units, hinting at the development of a residential framework that could have justified further commercial and retail investment in the area.

Such changes might have enabled a shift towards a more circular urban layout, with Hurst Road and neighbouring streets forming an active ring around the park, rather than maintaining the dominant east-west axis radiating from the Carfax.

However, these hopes have been undermined by the absence of a coherent town plan and the piecemeal disposal of public sites as they became vacant. The fire station, moved to a more efficient location on the A24, and its former site is now destined to become a retirement home.

Yet, an opportunity for innovation arises at the other end of Hurst Road, where the former Beefeater, opposite the station, has become a restaurant only for the Premier Inn. The site’s awkward access and cramped space might tempt developers to demolish and start over. However, a growing movement in architecture advocates the reuse of existing buildings as part of a sustainable, circular economy. The Architects Journal argues against needless demolition, emphasising that reusing buildings preserves the urban fabric and cultural history while benefiting small and medium businesses. Famous examples of successful building repurposing include Tate Modern in London, while a French architectural firm, with their motto: “never demolish.” was awarded the Pritzker Prize in 2021, the profession’s highest honour.

The Premier Inn site could be expanded upwards and outwards on the existing structure, reserving the ground floor for commercial uses and community space to foster social cohesion. Additional floors could be constructed from timber—a material with strong environmental credentials due to its carbon sequestration properties and lower energy costs compared to steel or aluminium. Timber’s durability, especially when using oak, can match or exceed that of modern materials. The design could incorporate innovative timber roofing. The enduring example of Phoenix Hall in Uji, Kyoto—standing for 900 years—illustrates timber’s longevity. The value of imaginative, respectful reuse, offers Horsham a chance for its own architectural renaissance.

For more information see www.horshamsociety.org