West Green's Homebase to be replaced by five bulky goods stores

West Green's Homebase is set to be demolished and replaced with five new '˜bulky goods' shops, potentially doubling the amount of jobs.
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The home improvement retailer had wanted to renew its lease so it could continue operating off Crawley Avenue.

But developer British Land Retail Warehouses was granted permission for the new retail units by Crawley Borough Council’s Development Control Committee on Monday night.

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Cllr Bill Ward (Lab, West Green) said: “Overall it seems a reasonable scheme, more people employed, and in planning reasons I can’t see any reason not to endorse it.”

Agent Craig Blatchford, of Montagu Evans, explained that the redevelopment would result in twice as many jobs as the current Homebase store.

The committee also approved further redevelopment in The Broadway on the corner of Queens Square.

Developers gained permission to convert the first and second floors of the building opposite The Pavilion into 18 flats, and to build an extra floor to provide another seven flats.

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The scheme includes retention and refurbishment of the existing ground floor retail units.

While councillors supported new homes and retention of the shops, they raised concerns over no affordable homes or parking spaces within the plans, and the impact of noise and pollution from buses and traffic in The Broadway.

Cllr Peter Smith (Lab, Ifield) said: “I think it’s a good application. I’m saddened it’s zero per cent affordable homes but so be it.”

Cllr Duncan Crow (Con, Furnace Green) added: “It’s the best that’s on offer and it will help to improve this part of the town centre.”

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