Fury in little UK market town at new plans that 'will turn it into Croydon'

Redhill, located in Surrey and just below Croydon, is facing a public inquiry over plans for the town's 'tallest building'. Disability activists claim the station will be made unsafe and inaccessible for some, the Redhill Residents Action Group adding their support against the developing of their "rural market town". The residents group claim the new devlopment plan to be a "Croydonisation" of Redhill.

Solum, the developer of the controversial Redhill station project, plans to bulldoze the car park and forecourt – two towers of up to 14 and 15 storeys, as well as 255 new homes, to replace it. First rejected by the Reigate and Banstead Borough Council in October 2024, the initial plan was questioned over general worry of the height, scale, layout and design of the buildings. Now, the new plan would see the return of the taxi rank to the station's rear, and the redirection of cyclists and drivers and cyclists to the Redstone Hill entrance.

Campaigners approached the inquiry on Tuesday, September 2, stating that the plans would exclude and "shut out" those with mobility issues, reports the Local Democracy Reporting (LDR) Service. In response, a spokesperson for the Surrey Coalition of Disabled People, Nikki Roberts, shared: "Disabled people will no longer be able to use the railway station safely," reports the BBC.

Roberts added that government guidance suggested disabled access should remain as close to the station's entrance as possible. Interestingly, a legal representative of the council relayed to the inquiry that the two towers would "puncture the character of the area".

Redhill Residents Action Group's lawyer spoke at the hearing, describing how "Redhill is not a large city but a small rural market town with only a few tall buildings". Overall, this left the developers to present the benefits of new housing in what they dubbed a "phenomenally sustainable location" –making sure to also point out that any train improvements would outweigh the supposed harm.

Lawyer of the developer Solum, Chris Katkowski, stated that Redhill's council was unable to provide proof of enough land that could be dedicated to housing, therefore deeming them unable meet its five-year target. The lawyer asked why the grounds of which the building application was rejected were due to it's lack of affordable housing when the council itself was accepting of the scheme's inability to be viable with non-commercial units.

This inquiry is set to take place over nine days, and due to adjourn on Friday. Plans for it to resume have been confirmed for November, 2025.