Plans for 70 homes and shops in Horsham’s ‘new West End’ submitted

JPCT 30-01-13 S13050609X Horsham. Proposed Waitrose redevelopment. Bishops Weald House car park -photo by Steve Cobb

Developer Westrock is hoping to build a new Waitrose store fronting on to Albion Way on the site of Lifestyle Ford and Horsham Bowling Club’s old home.

As part of a £35m scheme to redevelop the western edge of the town centre, it has submitted an application for part demolition and redevelopment of Bishops Weald House.

The existing shops fronting on to Worthing Road and the Bishopric will be retained, but new retail and restaurant units will be built in Albion Way as well as 53 new apartments.

Meanwhile on the Lifestyle Ford site a total of 17 residential units could be built.

The car dealership is moving to the old Citroen and Peugeot garage at Farthings Hill roundabout in Broadbridge Heath, while Horsham Bowling Club is relocating to Holbrook Tythe Barn.

In a letter to Horsham District Council on the planning portal Westrock said: “The proposals represent a significant investment in the town and the replacement of largely unattractive buildings with more vibrant townscape which is nevertheless in keeping with the scale and character of their surroundings.”

A non-food retail store would be built next to Waitrose, and it is understood HDC is fighting hard to attract John Lewis to the town.

For the full story see this Thursday’s County Times.