Decision expected on Redhill station tower plans

Members of East Redhill Residents Association are worried about the impact of the proposals

A final decision on the development of a high-rise building in Redhill town centre is due.

Developer Solum Regeneration has proposed to build two 255-home tower blocks on the car park next to the town's train station in Surrey.

The application received 1,950 letters of objection, with one residents group calling the development a “monstrosity.”

Solum Regeneration said the plans would make Redhill railway station more accessible with new shops and passenger areas, while also providing homes.

Reigate and Banstead Borough Council's planning committee is being recommended to approve the application.

Under the proposals, one of the blocks would range from 10 to 15 storeys and the other between seven and 14 storeys.

Nearly half of the planned homes will be one-bedroom apartments, with a further 18 studio apartments.

Campaigners have raised concerns about the height of the proposed development, adding they were also worried it would increase traffic and impact commuters due to the loss of parking spaces.

Vice chair of East Redhill Residents Association, Jan Sharman, said they were not against new homes and do want to people to come and live in the area.

“There is nothing that is being built in this development which will attract people to Redhill,” she told BBC Radio Surrey.

“There is room for new homes, but there is also room for homes on other brownfield sites.

“What we want here is an aesthetically beautiful town centre and, if this gets approved, for 50 years we will have a legacy that we can't live with easily.”

Tower blocks would be built at Redhill Station

Solum Regeneration development director, Andrew Atkins, said the firm had used feedback from residents to redesign the scheme.

“Our proposals will support the redevelopment of the station, including making it more accessible and providing new shops and passenger areas, while also providing homes on this brownfield site and creating new landscaping areas,” he said.

“We therefore welcome the positive recommendation we have received from planning, conservation and highways officers and we are now looking forward to the committee hearing on Wednesday.”