Wednesday 24 December, 2025

By David Grantham

In this issue: shopfront design in Reigate town centre is flavour of the month, with this issue reporting one recent planning decision (Adam’s Gallery at 42A High Street) and two applications (18 High Street and 70 High Street). That’s in addition to last issue’s piece on 68 High Street.

As a result, this issue is a bit planning-heavy, but there’s also something on the Harlequin, a clock fix and news in brief.

Have a very merry Christmas, and thank you for your support, particularly to my paying readers who receive the newsletter by email and get to read exclusive pieces.

I’ve been doing this for 11 years now, and it remains a spare-time project. Thank you to those who read, subscribe, or send me stories, for your patience.

There’s one more issue in 2025, so I’ll wish you happy new year then.

News in brief

Reigate police station on the A25, which closed due to RAAC in 2023, will be sold, to fund a new building in Salfords which will offer front counter services (currently being provided in Caterham). More from Chris Caulfield, Local Democracy Reporter, here (Abre numa nova janela). It’s previously been announced that the eastern divisional HQ, formerly also in the Reigate building and currently borrowing fire service space at Wray Park, will go to Leatherhead.

Gatwick Airport is increasing its terminal drop-off charge (Abre numa nova janela) for drivers to £10, from the current £7, with effect from 6 January. Drop-offs will still be free in the long-stay car parks, and blue-badge holders will remain exempt.

Bin dates: as mentioned in last week’s issue, there are changes to refuse collection dates for all Reigate & Banstead residents this festive season. Details from the council here (Abre numa nova janela).

Dunottar School, in High Trees Road, will be allowed to increase from 460 pupils to 600, after being granted permission by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council’s planning committee to vary planning conditions, including the school’s travel plan, which had capped the number of pupils. More from Chris Caulfield, Local Democracy Reporter, here (Abre numa nova janela).

Surrey Police launched their annual winter crackdown (Abre numa nova janela) on drink- and drug-driving at the start of December, featuring increased patrols, targeted stops and roadside checks, with the aim of reducing serious injuries and deaths. Last December’s initiative saw 196 drink/drug driver arrests across the county.

Up to 107 homes and a traveller pitch at Oakley Farm, Merstham (near the M25/M23), have won planning approval from Reigate & Banstead Borough Council. The site is a “sustainable urban extension”, suitable for housing, under the borough’s development management plan adopted in 2019. BBC article here (Abre numa nova janela).

Dame Joanna Lumley and friends are matching every donation made this December to Dorking-based charity Kids for Kids, which helps children living in remote villages in Darfur. The charity says that, owing to conflict, “families in Darfur are facing the darkest winter in living memory”. More information on donating (including by buying someone a gift certificate) is here (Abre numa nova janela).

Community access ‘built into’ theatre plans, but exact reopening date awaited

Local arts organisations were reassured at a council meeting on 27 November that the principle of community use has been “built into” expectations of the future operator of the Harlequin theatre and Unit 5 of the Rise, Local Democracy Reporter Chris Caulfield reports (Abre numa nova janela).

A successful bidder for the two venues is expected to be appointed in early 2026.

The council has previously given a date of early 2027 for both the reopening of the Harlequin (closed since September 2023 because of RAAC) and the opening of the new Unit 5. However, executive member Cllr Ben Green told a council meeting on 22 July that expectations had improved for the theatre: “We are targeting reopening the Harlequin by Christmas 2026, and I invite you to hold us to that deadline”.

Timing wasn’t fully set out at the latest meeting, so last week I asked the council for an update, and whether there would be a pantomime at the theatre in 2026.

A spokesperson said: “Until we are further through the design process, have appointed a contractor and have greater understanding on their works programme, along with the requirements of the third-party operator once appointed, we will not be in a position to provide further detail on timescales for opening either venue.

“Appointment of the main contractor and the third-party operator is expected in the early part of 2026. Our aspirations are to host a pantomime, but we are not yet far enough along in the programme to be able to confirm this.”

Gallery sign refused, appeal planned

Adam’s Gallery, at 42A High Street, has been refused retrospective planning permission for a first-floor hand-painted sign that it added to the Grade II listed building in 2022. An appeal is now planned.

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council refused the advertising (Abre numa nova janela) and listed building (Abre numa nova janela) applications earlier this month because the sign’s size and location had resulted in a “prominent, cluttered and obtrusive frontage”, which was out of character with (and harmful to) the listed building and Reigate town centre conservation area.

The council ruled that the sign did not comply with with advertising regulations and planning policy, including Reigate & Banstead’s policies on heritage assets and Reigate town centre shopfront design (Abre numa nova janela).

For its part, Adam’s Gallery had argued in a heritage statement (Abre numa nova janela) that the plans did satisfy policies, adding: “We have found that an independent art gallery situated in the conservation area has been a welcome addition to the area and that to ensure its viability we need to draw attention to its presence.

"Importantly we have no frontage or shop window onto the street, meaning we are not an obvious addition to the businesses on the high street.

“For this reason, with the conservation classification in mind and reflecting a historical aesthetic, a hand-painted reference to the gallery was in fact appropriate to the original era and character of this type of building.

“Historically the building was covered in painted advertisements and writing for a fishmonger from 1919. We therefore are attempting to recreate something of the historical atmosphere that will also help to maintain the viability of our business.”

The gallery also noted that the sign was not a permanent change, and could be repainted.

However, the borough’s conservation officer, John McInally, commented on the plans (Abre numa nova janela): “The Reigate Town Centre Shop Front Design SPD 2020 states that ‘Painted, applied or hanging signs on upper floor walls will not normally be permitted’.

“Where [a] sign has been permitted for a first floor retail or restaurant use this has generally been a small hanging sign (which would need Listed Building Consent & Advertisement Consent). It is consider[ed] that the present letter and frame are far too big for the size of premises and in the wrong location, causing harm to the listed building and Conservation Area, as it will set a precedent for other signs at this height.

“Whilst there was a sign at this height in the early 20th century, with the post war advent of advertisement control such signs were removed from first floors in the High Street resulting in a less clutter[ed] townscape.”

The conservation officer added that more sensitive signage, “such as a modest hanging sign”, could be used instead.

He also said that the gallery had been advised before moving in that all signs would need planning permission and should be at ground level - but the gallery said (in their papers and in comments to me) that they were unaware of this.

Reviewing the gallery’s advertising and listed building consent applications, and recommending refusal, a Reigate & Banstead planning officer agreed with the conservation officer, saying that the harm caused by the sign did not outweigh the limited public benefit.

In response to the resulting refusal, co-founder of the gallery Adam Green set up a petition (Abre numa nova janela) “to support me in ensuring that this piece of cultural identity remains intact”.

The petition has garnered over 3,200 signatures in support. That’s in marked contrast to the planning application process, where no public comments were made supporting (or opposing) the plans, and where none of the three Reigate ward councillors asked for the matter to be called into the planning committee for decision-making.

Adam Green has subsequently said in a petition update (Abre numa nova janela) that he has had a “productive meeting” with the head of Reigate & Banstead’s planning team.

Green added: “I now plan to take the planning refusal to appeal. So at present there is a stay of execution for the sign. And don't be alarmed if it looks like I have started to paint over it. I was in the process of repainting and restoring when the council decision came in. After three years it needed some TLC.”

Shopfront re-think in High Street

Planning applications have been submitted to Reigate & Banstead Borough Council to reinstate the shopfront at 70 High Street, which became store “7G Plus” this summer (having previously been a Phase Eight).

Mr S Chopra, listed in the papers as the site’s owner, has submitted planning (Abre numa nova janela) and signage (Abre numa nova janela) applications to reverse many of the changes that were made to the shopfront this year.

A heritage statement (Abre numa nova janela) submitted by Masonwood Design in support of the plans says: “Works without planning or listed building consent were undertaken to the external front elevation of the site, specifically with regards to a change of signage for the retail unit”.

An enforcement notice from Reigate & Banstead Borough Council was subsequently received, the statement adds.

The heritage statement outlines how the proposed changes will put things right, including stating that they will be in line with the Reigate Town Centre shopfront design policy (Abre numa nova janela).

The statement says: “The proposed reinstatement of the signage will result in a positive impact through the removal of unsympathetic modern interventions and the reintroduction of authentic materials, proportions and signage.

“The use of traditional timber joinery painted fascia, and centralised entrance design will enhance the legality and aesthetic coherence of the building.”

The paper lists the benefits the changes will bring to the Grade II listed building and conservation area, saying: “The reinstatement will therefore reverse previous harm and ensure the building once again makes a positive contribution to the designated heritage assets and the wider townscape.”

Reigate & Banstead is due to decide the applications by 29 January.

Latest plans for bank submitted

Dentist Dr William Westwood has submitted a signage application (Abre numa nova janela) for proposed new premises at 18 High Street (the former HSBC).

The building is Grade II listed, built in 1921 and designed by notable architect Thomas Bostock Whinney. Regular readers will recall that it’s seen a striking conservation vs commerce battle this year and last, with unsuccessful and withdrawn applications by a different applicant which aimed to alter the windows to make them friendlier for retail use. A national retailer’s name was mentioned in one set of plans.

In contrast, this appears to be a more straightforward signage application.

A heritage statement (Abre numa nova janela) by White & Sons in support of the proposal says it conforms to local planning policies, including those relating to listed buildings, the conservation area and the Reigate Town Centre shopfront design document.

Reigate & Banstead is due to decide the application by 10 February.

Clock repair planned

Reigate & Banstead Borough Council is planning to fix the clock (and local landmark) at the junction of Castlefield Road and London Road, which you see as you head into town from the station.

One of the four clock faces has been stuck at a few minutes before 8 o’clock since at least mid-October.

A council spokesperson said last week: “We are currently seeking to obtain quotations to address this matter.”

The clock was a gift just over 20 years ago from Reigate Rotary Club to mark 200 years of Rotary and 100 years of the local club.

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