By David Grantham
In this issue
Aldi has submitted its formal application to redevelop the current Range site; investments owned by a council company have lost millions in value; the Reigate summer festival is under way; the Black Horse reopened earlier this month.
News in brief
The English Arts Chorale have been in touch to say they have an Independence Day concert on 4 July at St Mary’s Church, Reigate, featuring the work of American composers. More information here (Opens in a new window).
Aldi submits plans for Reigate store
Supermarket chain Aldi has formally submitted plans to redevelop the site currently occupied by the Range, on Douglas Road, off Rushworth Road (near the train station).
The existing Range store (formerly Homebase) would be demolished and replaced with the new building. The plans (Opens in a new window) also include parking, landscaping and associated works.
At 1,915 square metres, the new single-storey Aldi store would only have around half the internal floorspace of the existing Range store, which has 3,617 square metres including a mezzanine floor.
Car parking spaces would increase to 130, from the current 107, including six electric vehicle charging bays. Sixteen cycle spaces would be installed.
Traffic is likely to be one of the main local concerns, particularly because of the busy junctions at either end of Rushworth Road, especially at the western end with the connection to the A217 (London Road).
However, Aldi's transport consultants argue that the development would be acceptable from a traffic standpoint. They say the proposed car park would have sufficient capacity, and the entrance into the site from Douglas Road will be widened.
The existing junction layout at Douglas Road and Rushworth Road would remain as it is, but a new pedestrian access would be created along the eastern side of the building, shortening the walk for people walking to the site from that direction.
A planning statement in support of Aldi’s proposals says the scheme would provide local residents with a wider choice of food shopping and access to lower-cost groceries.
The statement adds that Aldi could already operate a food store from the existing building under current planning permissions, meaning the proposal should be viewed as a redevelopment of the site rather than the introduction of a new supermarket use.
The statement also says a consultation run by Aldi in March asked people whether they supported the proposal in principle: of the 1,353 people who answered, 76% said yes, 19% said no, and 5% were unsure.
In an announcement about the application, Aldi said the consultation had attracted one of the highest levels of support seen in its UK consultations.
Reigate & Banstead Borough Council is due to decide the application by 4 September.
The Range remains open as normal.
Council investment properties lose millions in value
Two assets owned by Reigate & Banstead Borough Council's investment company, Greensand Holdings, have lost more than £5 million in value since they were purchased, councillors heard last week before approving the sale of one of them.
On 11 June (Opens in a new window), the Partner, Shareholder and Trustee Executive Sub-Committee approved the sale of Crown House in Redhill but rejected offers received for Fishers Farm in Horley.
Introducing the item, committee chair Cllr Ben Green (Con) said councils across the country had been encouraged to invest in commercial ventures after cuts in central government funding since 2010.
He said the investments had been made by councillors and officers who were no longer at the council, and that the current administration, since Cllr Biggs became leader in 2023, had been working to wind down the council’s commercial ventures.
Crown House
Councillors heard that Crown House, an office building in Gloucester Road, Redhill, was bought for £2.2 million in 2017 but is now valued at £1.57 million.
The committee also heard that the tenants moved out in April, leaving Greensand Holdings without its main source of income.
Cllr Green said office property values had been affected by changes in working patterns since the Covid pandemic.
Members agreed to accept an offer for the building, although the sale price was discussed in private because of commercial confidentiality.
Cllr Green said that details of the deal would be made public when it was agreed.
Back in May a planning application (Opens in a new window) was submitted by a third party to convert the building into 16 flats, which is still to be decided.
Fishers Farm
Fishers Farm was purchased for £10.8 million in 2019 and is currently valued at £6.7 million.
The land was acquired for the Horley business park project, which did not come to fruition.
Councillors decided not to accept any of the offers received for the site.
Reigate Summer Festival is here
(Opens in a new window)Reigate Summer Festival is under way, bringing music, arts and entertainment to venues across the town centre.
The festival, which runs until Sunday, includes live music, dance, comedy, film, literature, fashion, photography, workshops and local history events.
Many activities are centred around the festival's main venues, including the Tunnel Stage, Clocktower Stage, Community Stage and Cage Yard Stage.
Other locations for events across the town include Reigate Community Centre, Reigate Library, Everyman Cinema, Pilgrim Brewery, Reigate Priory, Waterstones, the Ivory Lounge and a variety of shops, cafes and businesses taking part in the Fringe Trail.
The festival schedule includes performances by choirs, bands and orchestras, alongside exhibitions, talks, workshops and creative activities.
To find out what’s on, visit the festival schedule (Opens in a new window).
The council’s Town Hall and Bancroft Road car parks are free-of-charge for festival-goers on Saturday, but people are encouraged to walk or cycle if possible, and on-street parking is limited.
The festival grew out of New Music Fest, an annual outdoor music event that began in 2014. After 2023, the event found itself without a home, and organisers worked with local partners including Reigate College, Reigate Business Guild and Reigate & Banstead Borough Council to create the first festival in 2024. The event has since expanded to include a wide range of arts and cultural organisations.
Most events are free to attend, although some workshops, comedy performances and other activities require advance booking.
(Opens in a new window)Black Horse reopens
The Black Horse in West Street reopened earlier this month following a three-month refurbishment that included an extension, updated interiors and improvements to the pub's garden.
Owner Heartwood Collection said the project forms part of a £1.5 million investment programme across five pubs in its estate.
The refurbishment included refreshed decor, new furnishings and updated signage, while retaining the pub’s heritage features.
Heartwood says the pub (Opens in a new window) will host regular events including quiz nights, entertainment and community evenings.
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Date
June 20, 2026
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