Crawley Borough Council - Retail Development - Crawley, Queens Square

Date: 26 Nov 2001

Crawley Council's plans for the town centre took a major step forward last week. Planning permission was granted to Crest Nicholson Properties for a new shopping complex in Queens Square which will provide approximately 5,110 sq mtrs (55,000 sq ft) of shopping floorspace and should attract a variety of new retailers to the town.

As part of the planning agreement, site owners English Partnerships and West Sussex County Council, will contribute more than £1 million through the land sales deal to Crawley Council. The money will be used to help fund and improve road and pedestrian access to the town centre as well as a range of public transport initiatives aimed at enhancing the attraction of Crawley as a shopping, business and leisure destination.

Councillor Doug Murdoch, Executive Member for planning and economic development, said: "The development will help bring new business to the town centre, benefiting the people of Crawley and all those who shop here. Now that the last planning hurdles have been overcome, I hope the developer, Crest Nicholson Properties, will start building as soon as possible."
Alistair Thomas of Crest Nicholson Properties said: "We have received good tenant interest in our proposals and already have instructed solicitors on two large pre-lettings. We hope to be in a position to start on site in autumn 2002."

Jonathan Martin, development manager of English Partnerships, added: "English Partnerships and West Sussex County Council are delighted to assist in such a tangible way in the long-term regeneration and development of the town centre."

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