Brightwells Yard: What went wrong with Farnham’s East Street development?

Farnham: So, let’s chat about this East Street development. It all started back in the early 2000s when Crest Nicholson had big dreams for the area. They wanted to turn it into a lively spot with shops, restaurants, and even a cinema. Sounds great, right?

But fast forward two decades, and it’s been a bit of a mess. There have been delays, controversies, and a lot of disappointment. Just recently, another key tenant, Coppa Club, pulled out, adding to the woes.

The whole idea came from a plan by Waverley Borough Council back in 2000, aiming to revitalize the area. But things didn’t go as planned. The original vision was for a larger space, but it got shrunk down over the years.

Public consultations brought up some creative ideas, but they were mostly ignored. By 2003, Waverley teamed up with Crest Nicholson, even though some folks were worried about potential conflicts of interest.

Things got even trickier when Sainsbury’s dropped out in 2008, and the project kept getting smaller. They ended up focusing on land owned by Waverley and some properties they had to buy through compulsory purchases.

Despite a ton of objections from locals, planning permission was granted in 2009. But many felt the new design was too dense and didn’t fit with Farnham’s vibe. There were also worries about splitting the town into two very different areas.

Financial issues plagued the project too. A public inquiry in 2013 raised questions about funding, and by 2016, the price Crest Nicholson was set to pay for the land dropped significantly.

Residents even tried to challenge the decisions in court, but ultimately, the courts sided with Waverley and Crest Nicholson. The management of contracts was left untouched, which was a bit frustrating for many.

To tackle funding problems, Surrey County Council stepped in to help finance the commercial parts, while Crest Nicholson took care of the residential side. Construction finally kicked off in 2018, but many were uneasy about using taxpayer money for this.

As construction progressed, there were still delays and concerns about whether the project fit with Farnham’s character. The plan included a lot of apartments, but people worried about whether there was enough infrastructure to support all the new residents.

When they finally launched in 2022, it didn’t go as smoothly as hoped. The opening of the Reel Cinema brought some excitement, but then more anchor tenants like M&S Simply Food and others started to pull out, leaving a big gap in the development.