Stakeholder key issues for HCA and developer of Cane Hill and Coulsdon Town Centre
Background : Coulsdon is a very nice place to live, it has good transport road, rail, bus and direct links to Gatwick Airport, It has quality housing, schools and marvellous countryside. However, the town centre has been in steady decline and a state of flux since the closure of Cane Hill hospital 20 years ago and does not offer the local population what they need from a modern local town centre. The go ahead and construction of the Bypass along with the town centre makeover have improved the visual look and has also improved the town centre environment by making it more pedestrian friendly.
However, as confirmed by the Master Plan and its supporting reports the town centre and surrounding area lacks a number of things that make the town viable for the future. These include: the lack of housing mix which is biased towards larger property with large gardens, these are too large and expensive for young professional people, young families and for older people to maintain. A much better mix of smaller apartments and houses with small 2 bedroom houses with smaller gardens along with family 3 and 4 bedroom houses are needed.
The town centre lacks one of the big four or a larger specialist supermarket for the weekly family shop (although local residents do not support a huge supermarket). The town centre also lacks modern health centre facilities for the local medical practices with good parking and access by public transport. There is a need to improve other local community and public services such as re-locating the Safer Neighbourhoods Police Teams into the town centre. The stakeholders would like to see a new public library combined with the CALAT adult learning centre and a possible innovation centre that also has meeting rooms. We would also like to see improved leisure facilities including a skate park for younger people, a public garden and garden centre would be an asset. The town centre also needs to provide more employment to bring people into the town during the day.
We would like to see the development provide employment and training opportunities for local people. The developer should provide opportunities for local young people to obtain apprenticeships and training opportunities during and after construction. Local infrastructure such as health, education transport and utilities must be improved to cope with the new development.
In summary: the town centre needs to be made more attractive to bring people to it and for them to spend some time here. We see the Cane Hill development as assisting with this process and we wish to see a development that complements the town centre not competes with it, providing opportunities for local people.
“The Cane Hill site should be a catalyst for the regeneration of Coulsdon town centre and surrounding area”.
Six Key issues for the Cane Hill site
1. Protecting the views: Cane Hill is on a predominant site rising in height to the south of town and can be seen from everywhere in the surrounding area. We would like to protect as much as the green outlook as possible from all the surrounding area. This includes views from Old Coulsdon, Farthing Downs, West Coulsdon, Woodcote and Hartley areas. From work already undertaken as part of the Master Plan a low level development from Lion Green to the existing admin buildings along the centre spine of the site and contained were possible within the existing woodland belts would suit this.
2. Transport Routes: This is a very important issue and we would like to see adequate parking on site for residents, visitors and businesses.
(a)The site should not be a large cul-de-sac and should have more than one exit and there should be the ability to drive through the site which should be laid out so as not to encourage rat running.
(b)There should be a good bus service providing links to the town centres and stations and other bus services. Any bus services should run through the site providing a service to existing areas as well. An exit from the development on to the southern bypass roundabout could facilitate better connections to Coulsdon South Station
(c)There should be good, safe, quick pedestrian walking routes around the development and to and from the town centre and stations. The existing footpaths across the site from Brighton Road to Portnals Road must be maintained and improved.
3. Quality Housing: The Master Plan indicates the there is a need for a range of housing from family sizes to small houses with gardens and apartments. These should be of quality design with adequate room sizes to cater for existing furniture. Building materials should reflect existing local designs (we do not want revolutionary designs which become slums in 10 years). Houses and apartments must be able to cope with the Council’s recycling programme and have adequate storage for waste and recycling bins. A limit of 4 stories should be put on housing (in line with the previous maximum ward height).
4. Green Belt Management: a) The Cane Hill site is situated within green belt and we believe this needs to be managed to provide new and improved opportunities for public recreation such as walking, cycling and horse riding, while protecting the existing fauna and flora. (b) The existing farm should be maintained on the site even if relocated.
(c)New footpaths, bridle and cycle routes should be provided to complement the existing ones.
(d) As much of the existing tree-scape as possible should be kept.
(e) A green space should be maintained at the rear of the two schools, Smitham and St Aidan’s, to maintain their green outlook.
(f) The existing Surrey Iron railway embankment, a scheduled ancient monument, should be made a feature that can be appreciated by the public
5. The Remaining buildings: We are very keen to keep the existing buildings and incorporate them into any new development. The Tower for over 150 years has been a dominant land mark that can be seen from all the surrounding area and this should remain. The Chapel is also very attractive and its features should be kept in any development. The admin building was very attractive prior to its collapse after the fire. If it is not possible to entirely reconstruct it then its general design and clock tower should be incorporated into any new building. We would like the existing building incorporated into a commercial development which might include a hotel, restaurant or conference complex, small commercial workshops.
6. Lion Green Car park: (a) We support this and the surrounding area being part of the planning process for the Cane Hill site.
(b) We support the development of a large Supermarket to make Coulsdon more viable for shoppers. However, the Stakeholder group has concerns whether Lion Green Car Park is a suitable site for a large supermarket. which if developed wrongly, rather than enhance the town it could have the opposite effect by drawing people away from the town centre by promoting home-supermarket-home only journeys.
(c) The Stakeholder support development of community facilities on this site
(d) We are also concerned over the increase in traffic and pollution this would have on Lion Green Road and the A237.
(e) The car park is an important part of Coulsdon providing short and long term parking for the town centre and local stations and adequate car parking must be an important part of Coulsdon’s future.
(f) It is important that the local scout troops which meet in Richmond Hall continue to have adequate meeting facilities.
Charles King Stakeholder group 9th October 2011
