Work continues on Uckfield town centre redevelopment plan

More news on the redevelopment of Uckfield town centre is due in the new year.

Work has been going on quietly throughout 2010 to put together a detailed plan that is financially viable, writes Paul Watson.

Chairman of the group steering the project, Mick Harker, told me: “It is definitely not dead in the water.”

Just over a year ago the concept of how the town might be changed was unveiled at a public meeting and exhibition at the civic centre.

The “conceptual” design came from consultants GVA Grimley.

Since then a new firm of consultants, King Sturge, has been appointed to try and turn what amounts to a “wish list” into reality with a properly-funded business plan.

Mr Harker said the current economic situation was not helping but pointed out major schemes such as this take many years to come to fruition.

“Town centre strategies take time to roll out. Most major projects of this kind can take nine or ten years from concept to the first bricks.

“You have to demonstrate that it is financially viable and will not turn into a white elephant,” he said.

The steering group is a partnership between four public authorities – the town, district and county councils plus the fire and rescue service – which between them own large areas of town centre land.

Three years ago, after extensive public consultation a Town Centre Master Plan was published setting out a vision for the future of the town.

In the two years following, the Steering Group, assisted by Grimley’s, an international town planning consultancy, further consulted and discussed various scenarios with large sections of the community.

From these discussions emerged a Preferred Option which was unveiled in October 2010.

Key features of the plan include the creation of a 'pedestrian priority' grid of streets that will allow configurations to change over the years without major upheavals; the creation of a Civic Square in the centre of the town linking the High Street to the Luxford Field; a new river crossing to alleviate some of the traffic issues experienced at peak times of the day and an enhanced river frontage celebrating the River Uck.

Previous stories on Uckfieldnews.com:

New consultants appointed

Preferred options emerge

Town centre plans go on show

Progress on other Sussex regeneration schemes

People concerned about the slow progress of the plans in Uckfield need only to look across the county boundary to Mid Sussex.

Major regeneration schemes are lined up in East Grinstead, Burgess Hill and Haywards Heath.

A development partner, Thornfield Properties, was appointed, widespread consultation took place and schemes were put forward.

However, each of the towns still waits for work to begin with the developer being placed in administration earlier this year.

Mid Sussex Council remains committed to schemes to revitalise the three towns.

Essential details of the schemes are:

East Grinstead - 16,000 sq metres of retail floorspace, 379 residential properties, 585 car parking spaces and new “public realm”.

Burgess Hill – The scheme includes 160,000 sq ft of shops and restaurants, 222 apartments, of which 30% are affordable housing, new community buildings including a completely new Martlets Hall and a new library, increased car parking and public transport improvements, a new town square and public realm improvements. This would be a £100m scheme.

Haywards Heath – A comprehensive redevelopment of the station quarter.

Uckfield man wins top financial planning award

An Uckfield-based businessman has won a top financial planning award.

Nicholas Holdcroft, director of Horlock Holdcroft, has been a warded Self Invested Personal Pension Planner of the Year.

He is pictured here, left, with former leader of the Liberal Democrats, Charles Kennedy.

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The Money Management Financial Planner of the Year awards, dubbed ‘the Oscars of the personal finance industry’ by BBC Panorama when it filmed at the very first awards presentation, are the premier awards for financial advisers, recognising their wide ranging duties, professionalism and the invaluable service that they offer to clients.

To reach the finals, Nicholas had to present a written 2,500 word solution to a complex real life scenario from a selection of case studies.

It’s all done anonymously, with each entrant given a PIN number so that the judges don’t know whose paper they are marking.

Nicholas then had to convince a panel of judges of his expertise in his selected specialisation in a face to face interview to determine the winner and runner up for his category.

The award was presented by Janet Walford, editor of Money Management magazine at an event at the Dorchester Hotel on London's Park Lane.

New director at Pureprint

Simon Cooper has been appointed Business Development Director of the Uckfield-based Pureprint Group.

The company has also confirmed the purchase of a new press taking investment in new equipment up to the £3 million mark this year.

Group turnover has increased by nearly 15 per cent in the last 12 months.

Businesses and councils form partnership

The go ahead has been given to the country’s largest Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP).

The new LEP will include businesses and councils from Kent, Essex and East Sussex, who will work together to promote economic growth across the region.

For East Sussex this means we will be able to continue with regeneration in Hastings and Newhaven but also develop:

Green technologies, including offshore renewable energy
Improved broadband across the entire region, especially in rural areas
Better links between public and private sectors.

Councillor Peter Jones, Leader of East Sussex County Council said: “This is very good news for residents of the county, not only will we be able to continue our regeneration work but will also be able to develop economic growth and prosperity.

"Working in collaboration with Kent and Essex will mean we all benefit from experience and expertise and can forge strong partnerships with local businesses.”