ASDA has today (Friday 28 January) announced that they intend to submit a planning application for a new store in Redhill town centre, on the site adjoining Cromwell Road and High Street, opposite the Belfry Centre.
Their plans have yet to be published, but it is known that they are at an advanced stage, and that discussions have taken place with residents and property owners who would be directly affected by the development.
The proposed site is bounded by Cromwell Road, Lower Bridge Road, Sincots Road and Holland Close. It currently comprises a mixture of offices, shops, housing and the Salvation Army Hall, most of which is owned by Raven Housing Trust, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, The Peer Group and The Salvation Army.
The proposal
The main features of the proposal, according to ASDA’s press release, are as follows:
- A new ASDA store for Redhill with a sales area of 25,000sq ft and a gross area of approximately 50,000sq ft.
- ASDA’s range of quality products at affordable prices, bringing the ASDA Price Guarantee to Redhill.
- A major employment boost, creating at least 270 full and part time jobs
- Ample car parking spaces with easy access to the town centre
- Cycling parking spaces to encourage more sustainable forms of transport
- Additional recycling facilities for the town.
Preferred site?
The Cromwell Road site was identified by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council as the preferred site for a new supermarket in the draft Area Action Plan, consulted upon in 2008 and 2009, on the basis that as a result of being close to the town centre it should increase the number of shoppers in the town centre. Earlier studies confirmed that Redhill currently has significantly lower food retail space than comparable towns of its size, and residents have often expressed the desire for greater choice of supermarkets in the town centre.
Cllr Julian Ellacott, one of the councillors for Redhill West, the ward in which the site lies, commented:
“This is a welcome proposal, although we need to see the detail before any decisions can be made. The Council has worked hard to encourage regeneration and investment in the town centre – we now have three supermarkets interested in expanding into the town, which is a great sign, so the Council now needs to weigh up the three proposals and decide which are acceptable.
“This proposal would affect residents in the immediate vicinity in particular, so ASDA’s final proposals need to take such concerns into account. I also believe that ASDA must relocate the community facilities currently on the site, such as the Salvation Army citadel, Citizens’ Advice Bureau, Help Shop and New Centenary House, if this proposal is to be acceptable.”
Multiple proposals
ASDA’s proposals are the third set of proposals for a new or extended supermarket in Redhill in recent months, following:
- A planning application from Tesco for a new store at Reading Arch Road (on the site of the Ford Garage), which is expected to come before the Planning Committee for a decision in February (information on the application can be accessed here).
- Proposals from Sainsbury’s for a significant expansion of their existing store at the Warwick Quadrant, for which there will be an exhibition at the Harlequin from 10am-2pm at the Harlequin this Saturday (29th January)
We very much welcome your comments on the proposals on this page (subject to our usual “fair comment” policy), which we can then take to ASDA for responses where relevant and we will also take them into account when we are in a position to decide on the merits of the scheme.
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On the basis that Asda DOES provide a greater range of lower cost items than other supermarkets – with the possible exception of the, smaller, Iceland – those less well off in Redhill would surely apptreciate an Asda within walking distance.
If Redhill is to go even further down market that it is already – let ASDA in!
great idea, we need asda
As the only supermarket in Redhill Sainbsury’s has my custom. I would however be delighted to have a choice of stores and Asda would be preferable to other suggestions. Also, for me, it would still be within walking distance.
The Asda proposals have some merit in the site but would cause a huge upheaval in the area and there is already a massive ASDA at Burgh Heath and we do not need more than one Supermarket in Redhill.
asda you are very welcome!!!!!
Redhill town centre desparately needs a re-vamp. Asda will certainly help to achieve this but not on its own.
Redhill needs better restaurants and retail to attract more affluential residents before the town turns into one of the worst town centres in Surrey.
Good luck council – you’ve got a long way to go
as someone who works in Redhill & needs to shop in their lunch hour it will be good to have the choice the asda store will bring.
Great idea.
Great location
more options.
more jobs.
I welcome Asda to Redhill, as nothing could make it any worse, the whole town needs updating, there is only one decent resteraunt and many downmarket pubs attracting the local alcaholics. The park is a joke, and the retail shops are tragic, bring on Asda, and knock down as much as the Cromwell Rd estate area as possible.