EXCLUSIVE: Crawley town centre plans plunged into uncertainty by recession

By gebrey

PLANS for a town centre facelift have been plunged into uncertainty because of the credit crunch.

Question marks surround the Town Centre North development plan, with council bosses saying "it is too early to say" what might happen in the future.

The new look town centre proposal was estimated to cost around £780 million and included plans for a John Lewis department store as well as a complete revamp of the Boulevard.

However, plunging land prices have meant plans have had to be reassessed.

Leader of the borough council, Bob Lanzer, spoke about the problems being faced at the Crawley Business Debate meeting last week.

He told an audience at Manor Royal: "There are all sorts of issues with falling land and property values, but Crawley Borough Council is committed to doing all it can to make this scheme happen.

"We are having to look at the scope and scale of the scheme again."

The current plans would see the demolition of Town Hall to make way for the John Lewis department store.

It was believed the Town Hall would be moved to north of the Boulevard, near Kilnmead car park.

The former Sussex House site was also demolished in June 2008, to make way for a large food store with new offices and a brand new hotel.

Crawley Borough Council also said last year it was "likely" that Sainsbury's, in Queensway, would be demolished to make space for a walkway between the Memorial Gardens and the Boulevard.

However, Mr Lanzer has said "it is too early to say" whether these plans would remain.

He told The News: "We still are looking with developers and looking at different ways of bringing the scheme forward.

"The economic downturn has meant we are having to look closely at plans in other creative ways.

"It's too early to say really. Any scheme this large can change before work begins.

"We know that John Lewis still want to come which is a big boost to the town.

"Even if the economy had not gone downhill, the scheme may have changed.

"We are doing all that we can to try and make this happen, we know it is so important to the town."