Horsham District Council was delighted to announce the opening of its new Horsham Town Centre car park at Piries Place on Wednesday 9 October.
The new five-level multi-storey car park is larger than the previous car park and has 516 spaces, 189 more than previously, which have both wider and deeper bays than before. There are 12 disability bays, 11 parent and child bays and eight electric vehicle charging bays.
New toilets and a full Changing Places facility are also new features.
The 14.5 metre high “living wall” is the car park's most iconic feature. The design is based upon the form of a tree and reflects the tree designs in the metal screens along the sides of the car park.
The plants living on the wall will increase biodiversity in the area acting as a place for insects and wildlife to live. They will also provide several environmental benefits including the absorption and capture of air pollution, particulate matter and carbon dioxide.
The new car park is positioned alongside Horsham’s recently completed multi- million pound Piries Place redevelopment which has transformed the area.
Piries Place is now a vibrant and important town centre location for both day time and evening visitors. The regeneration has created a high quality shopping and leisure offer for residents, visitors and businesses which enhances the existing town centre with the development of a new three screen Everyman cinema, a 92-bed Premier Inn hotel and a range of new restaurant and retail outlets.
As parking demand is set to grow in the town centre in the coming years, Horsham District Council Cabinet Member for the Local Economy Cllr Paul Clarke said:
“I am delighted that we are now in a position to accommodate future parking demand with the opening of this new larger and more modern car park.
“This considerable investment by the Council is great news for the town centre on many fronts.
“Improving the overall motorist experience was at the centre of the decision to refurbish the existing car park and this new parking facility greatly enhances both access and overall usability for everyone.
“We fully expect that the opening of the car park will give a real boost for local businesses, particularly those in the Piries Place and East Street areas and we thank local traders and shoppers for bearing with us during the construction phase of the car park.
“We are also committed to making Horsham a clean, green, sustainable and successful town. The “living wall” is an exciting way to make our public spaces more attractive whilst at the same time having a beneficial effect on the environment. Investing in greening projects like this will play an important part in safeguarding our local environment for future generations.”
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