A £350m planning application has been lodged for a major overhaul of Leatherhead town centre in Surrey, targeting two key brownfield sites at Bull Hill and the Swan Centre. The scheme is being brought forward by The Leret Partnership, a joint venture between Kier Property and Mole Valley District Council, as part of the council’s wider Transform Leatherhead regeneration programme.
The plans include 480 new homes alongside workspace and leisure uses, anchored by more than 10,000 sq m of modern Net Zero Carbon offices aimed at attracting new employers to the town. A multi-storey car park and the potential for new community facilities, including a GP surgery, are also incorporated into the proposals.
Bull Hill is earmarked for a residential-led development with improved public realm, designed by architect TP Bennett. The Swan Centre site will see a significant upgrade to its retail and leisure offer, with architect Corstorphine & Wright leading the revamp.
The Swan Centre proposals feature a three-screen cinema and four new restaurant and café units totalling 1,430 sq m, alongside a full refurbishment of shopfronts to create a more contemporary destination retail environment. The JV forecasts around £9m in developer contributions, over £12m of direct investment into the Swan Centre and an additional £8m a year in local spending.
Construction activity on the project is expected to sustain nearly 900 jobs. Leigh Thomas, group managing director for Kier Property, said the JV has worked closely with Mole Valley District Council to deliver a “sustainable and revitalised town centre” and a “market-facing scheme that unlocks significant inward investment to drive regeneration, economic growth and lasting community benefit.”
