Consultation on a new vision for Horsham Town Centre
We welcome your feedback on these draft proposals to create a high quality urban public realm that considers the needs of all residents, those working in and visiting the town centre.
This is your chance to help shape the future of Horsham.
Areas for improvements
- Bishopric
- Worthing Road
- Carfax and Medwin Walk
Project timeline
- Design Stage 2023-2025
- Works in Bishopric and Worthing Road to begin in Autumn 2025
- Carfax works are dependent on future funding
Objectives
Active Travel 
- Create a better environment for active travel to inspire people to walk and cycle.
- Enhance connections between existing and future local routes.
- Improve provision for cycling
- Improve safety for all users considering the needs of different groups: pedestrians, cyclists, mobility impaired
Public Realm 
- Reduction in visual clutter and rationalise material use and street furniture.
- Consistent design language of materials to improve way-finding.
- Improvement and renewal of facilities to support markets, wider events programme and maintenance operations.
- Understand local business needs and provide the space to support their operations.
Climate Resilience 
- Provide urban greening with trees and planting to improve the quality of green space for people and wildlife.
- Consider incorporating sustainable drainage.
- Incorporate sustainable construction and materials.
Have your say
This consultation is open from Wednesday 9 April to Wednesday 30 April.
Please share your thoughts on which aspects of these proposals matter the most to you. Your feedback will help to shape our decision making for the future development of the town for local residents, businesses and visitors.
You can also view banners highlighting the proposals in Horsham's Swan Walk at Unit 60 (close to Sports Direct).
Drop-In Sessions
If you prefer to speak with us directly, we’re hosting two drop-in sessions where you can view the proposals, ask questions and share ideas.
Where:
Unit 60, Swan Walk, near to Sports Direct and D&D Cafe.
When:
- Wednesday 16 April 10.30am-3.30pm
- Saturday 26 April 10.30am-3.30pm
Consultation on a new vision for Horsham Town Centre online survey
Consultation online survey opens a new tab
View the proposals in the sections below
Design Principles
- New public space designed to be inviting, inclusive to meet the needs of local communities and businesses.
- Provide flexible multi-functional spaces to support various activities, markets and events.
- New surfaces to withstand vehicle overrun and maintenance access requirements including emergency vehicles.
- Improve provision for cycling, creating a direct link North-South link between Springfield Road and Worthing Road.
- Bring nature and biodiversity into the town centre by introducing new street trees, with multiple benefits to the health and the quality of life for residents.
Key Improvements
The design of Bishopric considers the hierarchy of users and provides a clear material indication between segregated cycle track and shared cycle route/ footway.
- Proposed contraflow cycle track on Springfield Road joins at the north end of Bishopric allowing cyclists to continue within the shared environment.
- Plaza to retain pedestrian priority ensuring the safety of all users during the market days and events.
- Proposed cycle track from Black Horse Way and Worthing Road joins at the southern end of Bishopric allowing cyclists to continue to travel within the shared area.
- Emergency vehicles to access from the south end of Bishopric; vehicle tracking has been carried out to ensure they can turn into West Street.
- Vehicles for markets and events to access the area from the north end of Bishopric.
- Additional measures such as signage and tactile paving will be included to reinforce the strategy and direct different users.
Bishopric West
- Introduce a shared more open entrance to improve visual links and connectivity.
- Retain existing trees and introduce new planting to maintain the edge along Albion Way.
- Provide sufficient and convenient cycle parking close to shop fronts.
- Opportunities for table and chairs within the central section of the street - landscaped with trees and soft planting.
- Indicate the recommended routes for cyclists.
Bishopric Central Square
- New tree planting through the space to create visual links and help to decrease the speed of wind, creating a more comfortable environment for street users.
- New street furniture around new trees to provide seating, while allowing space for markets, events and vehicular access including emergency vehicles
Bishopric Material Palette
High performance surface materials are proposed for Bishopric to create a clean and more contemporary environment which can support a wider range of activities and traffic.
A strong and hard-wearing stone such as Porphyry/Granite paving with high slip resistance would work well with a different type of architecture in the Bishopric Area. The alternative option of using high quality concrete products will be considered during the next stage as well as options to achieve low-carbon solutions. Feature lighting is an important design consideration which highlights features and enhances the overall visitor’s experience.
Master Plan
Detailed Area Plans
Design Principles
- Provide two way cycle routes to Bishopric and Black Horse Way.
- Improve accessibility by upgrading some of the existing pavements and reducing uneven surfaces.
- Retain existing trees as much as possible and enhance the existing planting.
- Maintain the character and the setting of the historically important buildings
Key Improvements
The main objective for Bus Station and Worthing Road is to provide a cycle friendly route between the Bishopric area and Albion Way to the south.
The measures include:
- Install a one-way stepped cycle track along Worthing Road heading north.
- Introduce an advisory cycle lane along Worthing Road directed south for flexibility for all users of the carriageway.
- Install a two-way cycle track to allow cyclists access between Bishopric and Black Horse Way, to the north of the bus station, improving pedestrian safety on the footway around the bus station area.
- Realign the existing controlled pedestrian crossing between the bus station and Bishopric for better accessibility and spatial efficiency.
- Ensure visibility is sufficient for the safety of all road users around the junction of Worthing Road and Blackhorse Way, especially when HGVs are present.
Detailed Area Plans
Design Principles
- Enhanced cycle provision.
- Improved pedestrian flow and accessibility.
- Respect the existing historic character.
- Support markets and events.
Key Improvements
- Create safer environment for pedestrian and cyclists, introducing a pedestrian priority zone limiting vehicular access during the day.
- Buses and access to the loading bays are permitted all day.
- Enhance cycle provision with on road cycle route in direction of traffic and contraflow cycle lane.
- Provide new shared cycle route through Medwin Walk to improve connections to the wider area.
- Improve cycle provision with more cycle stands.
- Relocate taxi rank to improve visibility and pedestrian flow.
- Provide DDA compliant disabled parking bays.
- Create new pedestrian crossing points leading from Piries Place to improve safety and accessibility
Medwin Walk
- Medwin Walk will be shared with cyclists and pedestrians creating a new connection for cyclists.
- Surface materials will have subtle markings and/or changes in colour to suggest a route thorough the space without having detrimental effects on the historical character of the area. Design consideration needs to be given to accessibility as well as safety of other users.
- Planter and stocks to be removed/relocated to increase space for markets and visibility towards shared cycle route.
Carfax Central
- Reorganise the step sequence to provide DDA compliant steps.
- Retain the good pedestrian flow on the upper/northern area.
- Organise and group street furniture to reduce street clutter to help with better pedestrian movement and to define the areas for market stalls. Use tonal contrast or textural changes in paving to reduce potential hazard for people with visual impairments.
- Remove the existing benches/picnic benches and provide seating around the planters allowing more space and seating options for market days.
Carfax East
- New contraflow cycle route to support the active travel vision.
- Additional pedestrian crossing to improve connectivity.
- Relocate and reinstate the existing benches/picnic benches and provide seating around the existing planters.
Carfax Material Palette
- The majority of the pavement will retain/reinstate existing York stone. The intention is to reduce riven (uneven) surfaced flags and replaced with a sawn finish to provide a smoother more accessible surface.
- The granite kerbs will be used to create the upstand behind the bus stop and relocated loading bays and reduce the number of bollards.
- High quality concrete block paving has been considered for pedestrian crossings and contraflow cycle track, retaining a traditional feel whilst providing the performance required for busy traffic. A range of laying patterns and joint options are available to support high footfall, cyclists and the vehicle loading required for the project.
- Feature lighting will be considered to enhance spatial character and safety at night-time and is subject to further assessment.
Last updated: 09 Apr 2024