Plans for new homes to replace Poundland in Surrey town centre

Epsom could be about to get some new flats after plans have been submitted to convert the building above the old Poundland into homes have been submitted to Epsom and Ewell Borough Council.

If approved, it would create 12 new homes in the town centre overlooking the High Street and Epsom Square.

A new application has been submitted after previous plans at the site were refused early in 2024 on the grounds of insufficient information related to waste collection, as well as cycle access and parking. Developer LTP Ipswich Ltd said it has now provided clarity on the matter.

Documents show four flats and eight studio apartments are planned across the first to third-floor levels of the building as part of the conversion. Three of these studios are proposed on the first floor overlooking the High Street.

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The second floor will feature three studio apartments at the front of the building and two flats and a studio at the rear. The third floor will have two flats and a studio apartment at the rear overlooking the plaza towards the newly-opened Picturehouse cinema.

Areas, including at the rear and west of the first floor and the west of the second floor, will be kept separate for non-residential use. All flats and studios will be accessed via internal corridors that separate the living areas from non-residential spaces.

Developers confirmed in the application there are no planned changes to the outside of the property and that the development will not impact the commercial ground floor space that was previously Poundland. They said: “The change of use occurring on the ground floor will not hinder the viability of the commercial unit as it will maintain the quality and viability of the commercial space ensuring continued viability of the high street.

“The change of use will not be visible from the main High Street and therefore will not hinder the character of the High Street and conservation area.” The basement will also be retained mainly for non-residential use but will include cycle storage and bin areas.

The ground floor was previously a Woolworths before it became a Poundland. This then closed in March 2023. The upper floors have been used as storage for the ground floor unit.

The 12 flats and apartments proposed will be provided with 23 cycle parking spaces, however, the scheme has been put forward as a car-free development. The application described the location as sustainable and outlined the close proximity of the railway station with trains to London and also nearby bus routes.

The property above the former Poundland has been characterised as a mid-terrace commercial premises with a front facade and retail frontage that faces the High Street as well as a rear facade that backs onto Epsom Square. The building is split across three and four storeys and has a basement area.

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