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Live. Work. Visit. Final Report Subject to MVDC Executive Approval Live. Work. Visit. Contents 1 / Introduction 05 2 / Town Centre Context 09 3 / Consultation and Engagement 19 4 / Transform Leatherhead: Vision and Objectives 23 5 / Transform Leatherhead: Masterplan 29 6 / Accessibility 57 7 / Delivery and Implementation 65 1 / Introduction 1.1 Purpose of the Report • Form the basis of appointing a • Transform Leatherhead – Masterplan development partner(s). Baseline Report (Nexus Planning, This report has been prepared on August 2015); behalf of Mole Valley District Council In this context the purpose of this • Transform Leatherhead – Stage (MVDC) by Nexus Planning working report is to: 2 Consultation Report (Nexus with Broadway Malyan, Colliers Planning, January 2016); and International and Mouchel and details • Identify the strategic objectives in a strategy to transform Leatherhead transforming the town centre. These • Transform Leatherhead - Stage town centre. It provides a strategic have been developed through 3 Consultation Report (Nexus vision for the town centre, identifies extensive consultation with the local Planning, June 2016). a set of objectives and makes community and other stakeholders; recommendations on how the key • Ensure sites coming forward for MVDC is about to embark on the opportunity sites and projects can development fit together coherently preparation of a new Local Plan for be taken forward. The strategy is and contribute to the regeneration Mole Valley. This will establish the supported by recommendations on objectives for the area; type, amount and location of new delivery and an action plan which development that will be planned for in identifies where further work is • Provide guidance for developers, the District over the next ten to fifteen required. landowners and residents; years and the policies for managing The objectives of this study as set out • Contribute to the evidence base of new development. It is envisaged that in the brief are to: the new local plan; and the principles and proposals of the Transform Leatherhead Masterplan • Engender community support for the • Provide a focus for work with key will be absorbed into the Local Plan as transformation of Leatherhead town partners, including with businesses, its preparation is progressed. centre; community service providers, community groups and public • Bring forward robust and The report takes a holistic view of transport organisations. commercially viable proposals that the town centre and its key character are attractive to potential investors, areas or ‘quarters’. Urban design This report builds on a programme of will revitalise and rejuvenate analysis of the town centre as a whole analysis and consultation undertaken Leatherhead town centre through has led to the definition of quarters, by the project team supported by a mixture of uses and create each with their own characteristics officers and members of MVDC. an attractive and welcoming and opportunities. This has environment; provided the basis for a town centre This report can therefore be read in wide framework that strengthens • Enhance Leatherhead from conjunction with the following reports: Leatherhead, helping it to become economic and social perspectives; more legible, coherent and vibrant. • Transform Leatherhead – Stage • Bring forward proposals for 1 Consultation Report (Nexus environmental and transportation Planning, June 2015); improvements; and The River Mole Leatherhead Theatre on Church Street Looking west down the High Street 5 1 / Introduction The town centre wide strategy has the town there have been no fixed 1.2 Methodology revealed key opportunity sites and boundaries for this study. The core projects, together with guidelines for study area comprises the area shown Work undertaken to date their redevelopment derived through below, extending north to the railway stakeholder consultation including their station and south to the river with A staged process has been undertaken massing, land use and development the core town centre inbetween. The in developing the Transform requirements. It is intended that this the opportunity has also been taken Leatherhead strategy, the culmination approach ensures that each site to consider the physical, economic, of which is reflected in this report. Key supports both the economic vitality and accessibility and community linkages stages have comprised: quality of the town centre as a whole across a wider area, including with as well as each particular character the Leatherhead Business Parks, the Baseline Review – the focus of this area. Mole Valley corridor and the villages stage was a thorough review of the of Ashstead, Fetcham and Bookham existing information, studies and The recommendations for key and their relationship to the Transform policies as well as primary research. opportunity sites set out in the report Leatherhead agenda. Consideration This work considered a number of are underpinned by urban design has also been given to how the areas including existing planning and analysis, viability models and analysis residents of north Leatherhead, one of development policy; a spatial analysis of development constraints to ensure the most economically deprived parts and town centre audit; a review of that they are deliverable, and that of Surrey, can be better placed to take environmental and infrastructure delivery barriers are identified and advantage of the employment, housing assets and constraints: an assessment understood. As highlighted above a supply and other opportunities which of socio-economic indicators and baseline report has been prepared as will be created through the Transform retailing patterns; and a review of part of this commission which forms an Leatherhead strategy. the property market and end user important part of the evidence base. requirements. Baseline Consultation on Key Issues – the first stage of consultation ran throughout May and June 2015 and involved a number of consultation techniques including: • A postcard distributed to approximately 25,000 households; • A Business Breakfast; • One to one meetings with key stakeholders including landowners; • Dedicated website with online survey; • Town centre drop in events with a video booth; • Use of social media; • Community outreach including youth groups; and • Interactive workshops with Members Reference Group and Community Reference Group LeatherheadWhilst focusing town oncentre the - heartCore Study of Area members. 6 See Transform Leatherhead – Stage and considered the draft masterplan 4. Transform Leatherhead: Vision and 1 Consultation Report (June 2015) for ideas. The results of this stage of Objectives – the vision and strategic further details. consultation feed into the evolving objectives for Leatherhead town masterplan. centre together with urban design principles. Baseline Report – The baseline report presented the results of See Transform Leatherhead – Stage 2 5. Transform Leatherhead: Masterplan a number of interrelated lines of Consultation Report (January 2016). – outlines the overarching enquiry concerning the current spatial strategy and explores the characteristics and constraints of composition and performance of the Draft Final Masterplan Consultation each key opportunity site, outlines town centre, its physical environment - The purpose of the third stage the preferred option and sets out the and infrastructure, the results of of consultation was to allow the key deliverables, interventions and consultation with the community and community to provide any final conditions required to deliver it. key stakeholders and the local property comments on the proposals set out 6. Accessibility – a robust, market. In doing so we sought to draw in the Final Masterplan Report. This transformative accessibility strategy out the town centre’s existing assets consultation took place between April underpins the development strategy and opportunities for improvement. and May 2016. Comments made have and considers the highway network, fed into the final masterplan. public transport, pedestrians, cyclists See Transform Leatherhead – Baseline and car parking. Report (August 2015). See Transform Leatherhead - Stage 3 7. Implementation and Delivery – Consultation Report (June 2016). recommendations on the appropriate Preparation of Draft Masterplan mechanisms to deliver the Transform – Further work built on the baseline Leatherhead agenda, the key 1.3 Structure of this Report findings to develop a draft vision for projects and importantly, a number of complementary initiatives. The Leatherhead town centre and the The remainder of this report is Delivery Strategy is supported by an strategic options for delivering this structured as follows: Action Plan. vision. This formed the basis of a draft 2. Transform Leatherhead: Context – masterplan which comprised a series of provides an overview of the context Acknowledgement spatial principles, approaches to public to the town centre and the Transform realm, ideas for simplifying the road Leatherhead project. Nexus Planning and the consultant system and highlighted a number of key 3. Consultation and Engagement: team would like to thank the officers developments and projects that could Outcomes – summarises the process and members of MVDC, the Community help to transform Leatherhead. and key outcomes from the extensive Reference Group, the local community, public and stakeholder consultation local businesses and other community and statutory consultees whose advice, Draft Masterplan