News
Merstham Regeneration Progresses as
New Homes Approved
Part of a multi-million pound regeneration project - featuring homes,
shops, a community hub, library, youth skills centre and cafe - has been
approved
Councillors have approved the latest part of a scheme to regenerate
Merstham.
At a Reigate & Banstead Borough Council planning meeting earlier this
month, members agreed to an application to demolish the existing
buildings in Portland Drive to make way for 48 new homes.
Developers will knock down a parade of shops and a number of flats and
garages to build 48 one, two and three-bedroom homes. It is part of a
multi-million pound joint venture by Raven Housing Trust and the council
to improve the deprived area.
A report to the council said: "The parade has long been in need of
regeneration, due in part to the visual impact of the development but
also due to an array of social problems that result from it."
The scheme will also feature new shops, a community hub, library, youth
skills centre and cafe.
Pete Trowbridge, Raven Housing Trust’s head of development, said,
“We're absolutely delighted that the regeneration plans have reached
this stage. For Raven and our council partners it represents yet another
milestone to bringing the changes to Merstham [that] local people have
been promised for so long. Our next steps are to contact all tenants and
leaseholders over the next couple of months and to continue speaking to
shopkeepers to achieve vacation by the end of 2015."
Council officers recommended councillors grant planning permission
subject to conditions.
Work is due to start next year with residents expected to begin moving
out of their homes this summer.