A DEVELOPER has revealed plans to build 62 new homes and two shops in Horley town centre.
East Street Homes has drawn up proposals for 56 one- and two-bedroom flats and six cottages on the site of a disused car park in Victoria Road.
On Friday the firm used a public exhibition inside the town council's Albert Road offices to showcase its preliminary plans for the site, which is near Russell Square, a six-story, 90-flat building with four shops currently under construction on the former Newman House site.
The latest plans include 35 parking spaces accessed from Russells Crescent, which has been built for Russell Square.
Andrew Fryer, managing director for the firm, told the Mirror: "We have taken cues from Newman House and we understand the sales have gone very well. They [Thames Valley Housing] are saying they have had very positive feedback from the sale point of view."
He said the new homes would suit young professionals and elderly people who wanted to live in a town centre.
Providing the planning application is approved, Mr Fryer said he hoped construction would start in 2016.
But some residents who attended the exhibition were not happy at the prospect of more homes being built in Horley.
Yolanda Kelly of Burton Close said: "There's always accidents along Russells Crescent where people use it as a rat run. We get people speeding through there.
"We were even talking about using it as a park.
"That car park has been there for years. Why build on everything? Horley has become this dumping ground. It's not for the good of the town.
"I'm planning on moving from Horley. I have been here long enough and there's just not enough positive signs. This is just another thing we have to fight."
She also questioned whether 35 car parking space would be enough for the 62 homes.
On the Mirror's Facebook page, Andrew Down added: "So... shops nobody wants, homes nobody can afford... not to mention no provision amongst doctors' surgeries, dentists, school places etc for the extra people, just like every other development."
But Mr Dyer said: "There has been a very strong push by the Government and therefore the country to try to encourage people to leave their car at home. We have all become very car dependent. Do we feed the car dependence or do we try to offer people alternatives?
"We are trying to bring some regeneration for Horley, this has been a car park for God knows how long."
