Major improvements to Farnham town centre are due to start on 17 February to create a modern town centre which celebrates its history, reduces congestion and improves air quality.
Once the construction works are completed, residents and visitors will see improvements such as:
- Wider pavements, wherever possible, will give more space for shoppers.
- High quality public spaces, that includes greening, new paving and seating, so people can choose to stop and enjoy the town for longer.
- Dedicated loading bays to support local retailers.
- Pedestrian controlled crossings and raised tables will make it safer to cross roads.
- Changes to the gyratory system will keep the town moving, with two-way traffic at the bottom of Downing Street and on The Borough west of Castle Street.
- Two new bus shelters with real-time passenger information, lighting and extended level boarding areas will provide seating and protection against the weather for passengers.
- Advanced stop lines and additional parking for people who cycle.
- Sustainable urban drainage systems (SuDS) to make the town centre more resilient to heavy rain.
The improvements are part of the Farnham Infrastructure Programme, a partnership between Surrey County Council, Waverley Borough Council, Farnham Town Council and Greg Stafford MP.
Tim Oliver, Leader of Surrey County Council and Chair of the Farnham Board, said: “These improvements are the most significant changes to Farnham town centre for a generation, and come after several rounds of consultation and engagement with people in the town. The improvements have been phased to minimise disruption, but I advise people who live, visit or travel through the town to keep visiting the website or sign up to the project e-newsletter to stay up to date.
“These improvements will transform the town centre. I am confident they will enhance the town’s history, while encouraging shoppers to spend longer in the town and support the local economy.”
First phases
Roadworks will start on 17 February inThe Borough between Castle Street and West Street. By removing traffic islands at the top of Downing Street, cars will be able to turn right out of Castle Street and will help keep the town centre moving during the improvement work. In this approximately two-week phase, there will be temporary traffic lights during the day, and 11 overnight road closures when a diversion route will be in place. Pedestrians and cyclists will be able to walk past the roadworks, and early and late buses will be marshalled through the closed road so do not need to be diverted. Temporary traffic lights with crossing points will be installed as part of this initial phase, which will remain in place until permanent ones are installed later in the project.
The next phase, which will begin straight after works on The Borough, is making Downing Street two-way between Longbridge and Lower Church Lane. This is expected to last for eight weeks. There will be lane closures in place full time, but no temporary traffic lights or full road closures. Pavements will be open for pedestrians, and no buses will be diverted. These improvements will allow cars to access and exit Waggon Yard car park without needing to travel around the gyratory system. Please note that this section of road will only be opened to two-way traffic following completion the following phase – at the junction of Longbridge, Union Road and Victoria Road.
At the same time, 11 weeks of improvements to Riverside Walk, between the Riverside car parks and Brightwells Yard have already started. The existing footpath will be widened and resurfaced, with new landscaping and lighting. The result will be a shared use pathway for pedestrians and cyclists, featuring a hard surface for enhanced accessibility. This upgraded pathway will make it more enjoyable and easier for residents to move to more sustainable and active ways of travel by making it easier to Park and Stride from the Riverside car parks to the town centre.
The whole town centre improvements project is expected to take approximately two years. Full details and the construction plan are available on the project website at www.surreycc.gov.uk/farnhamworks, as well as a sign up form for the monthly project e-newsletter if you want receive emails to keep you up to date.
Information is also available in Farnham Town Council in South Street and Farnham Library in West Street, or by calling 0300 200 1003.
The Farnham Infrastructure Programme
The programme started in 2019 when the then local MP Jeremy Hunt challenged the local councils to work together to reduce congestion and improve air quality in the town.
Since then, there have been public consultations on the programme’s vision in 2020, an infrastructure plan in 2021, and on town centre proposals in 2022 – which used innovative virtual reality to give people a sense of what the transformed town centre would be like.
The programme has now delivered a series of improvements to Farnham, including:
• Improvements to the Water Lane roundabout including a new toucan crossing,
• 20mph speed limits in the town centre, Upper Hale Road and Weydon Lane
• HGV restrictions
• A325 reclassification
• A31 speed limit reduction
• Installation of wayfinding signs
• Improved visibility of the Wrecclesham Bridge
The project has also had a Strategic Outline Business Case for improvements to the A31 approved by the Department for Transport.
Greg Stafford MP said: “The works due to start next week will bring significant changes to Farnham town centre, affecting us all—residents, businesses, and visitors alike. With adjustments to both vehicular and pedestrian access, disruption is inevitable, but I hope that, in time, we will see improvements.”
For more information on the Farnham Infrastructure Programme, visit www.surreycc.gov.uk/farnhamprogramme
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