We are delivering a series of improvements to Cranleigh High Street aimed at providing a safe, greener, welcoming and more accessible village centre.
Background
The Cranleigh High Street Improvements project focuses on:
- Enhancing road safety for pedestrians, cyclists, and other road users
- Where possible, widening pavements to improve accessibility
- Introducing more greenery and public seating to improve the village environment
- Supporting local businesses by encouraging visitors to stay longer
- Improving drainage to address localised flooding
- Updating public transport infrastructure, including new bus shelters with real‑time information
The programme consists of three elements:
- Pedestrian crossing improvements and road resurfacing around the Obelisk (junctions of Ewhurst Road, Horsham Road and High Street)
- Improvements to the area known locally as ‘Fountain Square’
- High Street public realm improvements
See below for more detail on each of these elements.
Latest updates - semi-pedestrianisation of Fountain Square
Semi-pedestrianising Fountain Square in Cranleigh on weekends and bank holidays will go on trial from Saturday 8 August.
The trial means all vehicles, including pedal cycles, will be prohibited from proceeding along Bank Buildings Road (the section of road outside Yangaz and The Richard Onslow) between 9am and 4.30pm on Saturdays, Sundays and bank holidays on a trial basis.
As part of the trial, Onslow Mews will be changed from a one-way street to a two-way street. This means motorists will be able to access Onslow Mews directly from the High Street instead of through bank Buildings Road
During weekdays, and outside of these restricted hours, access to Bank Buildings Road will remain available as normal.
By reducing vehicle movements on Bank Buildings Road during the busiest times, the scheme will provide more space for people to walk, meet and enjoy the area. It is intended to improve safety for pedestrians, support local businesses, and enhance the overall visitor experience in Cranleigh town centre.
Works to enable the trial
To enable the trial, there will be some works on Thursday 6 and Friday 7 August. These works will include updating road markings, and installing signs. There will be no temporary traffic lights or road closure, however, it is essential to keep Bank Buildings Road free from parked vehicles to enable the work to proceed as planned.
Please talk to a member of our staff on site if you need help during the works – they are keen to deliver the work with minimal disruption to you.
The work is weather dependant and can be delayed by bad weather or other factors. Please look at our information boards on site for date changes.
Giving feedback on the trial
Surrey County Council are introducing the changes using an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO). This allows the scheme to be trialled, monitored and reviewed while feedback is gathered before any decision is made on whether the arrangements should become permanent. We welcome all comments and feedback on the trial, which will be considered as part of the assessment of the experimental scheme.
To ensure any comments on the ETRO are considered, they need to be submitted by 7 February 2027. A decision on whether to make the changes permanent will need to be made before the ETRO ends on 5 April 2027. Visit the consultation page to see official documents and to comment..
Phasing plan
Phase 1 – Preliminary works (approx. duration 4 weeks). This will involve night-time traffic management (3-way temporary traffic lights) and will deliver changes to kerb lines, temporary removal of the Rowland Road traffic island and temporary removal of the High Street crossing point outside Cranleigh Pharmacy.
Phase 2 – Footpath and drainage works (approx. duration 4 weeks). This will deliver new rain gardens, drainage improvements and footpath changes.
Phase 3 – Raised tables (approx. duration 3 weeks). For this work, Onslow Mews will need to be closed at night but it will be open during the day. This phase will deliver the new block paving for the raised table.
Phase 4 – Fountain Square regeneration (expected duration 4 weeks). This will involve localised work with short term traffic management, where required. The planned works include:
- Enhancing and reconfiguring the existing planters with integrating seating within the planter design to create a more accessible and functional space
- Introducing wayfinding feature (signage) in the centre of the area
- Introducing electricity sockets for market stall vendors
- Trialling a part-time pedestrianised area (Saturdays, Sundays, and Bank Holidays, 9am to 4.30pm)
- Adding more planting, including rain gardens and trees
Phase 5 – Rowlands Road table (expected duration 1 week). This will require a full road closure for the duration to install the new raised table crossing. This has been scheduled during the school holidays to reduce disruption.
Phase 6 – Night-time works (approx. duration 1 week). This phase will require temporary 3-way traffic lights at night-time while our crews install the pedestrian island/ refuge on the High Street.
The programme of works is provisional and can be affected by adverse weather. Updates will be posted here in the event of any changes.
Fountain Square – what we’re delivering
Work on the Fountain Square area will start in spring 2026 and finish in autumn 2026. The improvements delivered during this time will be:
- Introducing a part-time pedestrianisation area (Saturday, Sunday & Bank Holidays 9am to 4.30pm)
- Introducing more greenery to address localised flooding (Rain Gardens)
- Improve the seating area around the memorial Fountain
- Installation of a raised area at the Junction of High Street / Rowland Road whilst maintaining the pedestrian island
- Removing the one-way access from Onslow Mews – This will become two-way from the High Street to maintain access during the pedestrianisation times.
- Installation of a raised crossing area at the Junction of High Street / Onslow Mews
- Relocating the Blue Badge parking bay from Fountain Square to Bank Building Road (near the War memorial) to accommodate the pedestrianisation area
These works will be delivered in phases to minimise disruption. Where a full road closure is required, we are aiming to schedule these activities outside of school term times, where possible.
High Street public realm improvements
The project team are currently working with designers finalising the detailed designs. No construction dates available for this phase yet.
The Obelisk
The improvements delivered as part of the works included upgrading the existing uncontrolled crossing points on Horsham Road and Ewhurst Road, as well as installing a new uncontrolled crossing island with tactile paving on the High Street. The project also introduced a series of minor kerb adjustments along with targeted resurfacing to enhance overall safety and accessibility. Work completed Spring 2025.
Town Centre pedestrian wayfinding
We have worked with a number of people in Cranleigh and designed a pedestrian wayfinding strategy for Cranleigh Village centre that helps visitors navigate around the Village and the amenities that Cranleigh has to offer.
The project involves the installation of a range of map-based signs across the Village centre, located at key locations and decision points. Sign locations, include the public car parks, bus shelters, Fountain Square, Knowle Park and along Highway land outside of Cranleigh Arts, Downs link / Stocklund square car park.
Engagement timeline
November 2021: The start of the scheme
A local county councillor and an established working group reached out to Surrey County Council Placemaking team, highlighting the need for improvements in Cranleigh High Street’s, specifically improvements to accessibility and public realm.
2021: Community insights
The Cranleigh Parish Council gathered initial feedback from residents about a potential closure in Fountain Square.
November 2021: First discussions
The team met with the local county councillor in Cranleigh to discuss potential plans for the area.
December 2021: Working together
The team met with the established Cranleigh Working Group to discuss potential proposal ideas. This meeting helped shape the designs for Fountain Square and Cranleigh High Street.
July 2022: Community engagement begins
The team visited the High Street and conducted a survey to gather local insight and thoughts on what local people liked about the High Street and what they would like to see improved.
November 2022: Initial public engagement at Cranleigh Library
The team presented three proposals, which included ideas for Fountain Square, the area in front of the Post Office, and other High Street improvements such as raised sections of the road to help manage high speeds and wider pavements.
January 2023: Engaging with the Youth Council
A member of the placemaking team met with the Cranleigh Youth Council to gather thoughts and ideas from younger residents.
September 2023: Sharing new designs
New designs were shared with the Cranleigh Working Party and the Parish Council. The Parish Council shared concerns over the speed tables but showed support for the other aspects of the plans.
November 2023: Youth Council consultation
The Parish Council shared the new designs with the Youth Council who generally supported the overall plans.
November 2023: Second community engagement at Cranleigh Arts
The team returned to Cranleigh for a second round of engagement. Feedback showed no major concerns about the Obelisk Junction or Fountain Square, and residents were happy that the Post Office area would not be pedestrianised and that bus lay-bys would not be moved. There was still significant concern about the removal of the Village Way roundabout and some concern over the removal of the pedestrian islands currently on the High Street. The removal of the Horseshoe Lane roundabout had mixed support.
August 2024: New stakeholder group
The team met with a newly formed stakeholder group to discuss further engagement with the community. It was agreed that the High Street proposals will now be split into different themes which are presented on these display boards.
Winter 2024: Public Engagement
The 2024 Cranleigh High Street Commonplace engagement website was open online from December 2024 and January 2025.
A total of 482 comments were received through the website and paper surveys. This number includes respondents who chose to keep their answers private and did not publish them online. The comments were received across 5 different themes:
- Improved pedestrian crossing points
- Improvements to Knowle Lane junction
- Post Office entrance and pedestrian crossing
- Pavements and on-street parking
- Public transport and supporting walking and cycling
As part of the engagement, we held a number of in-person events, including:
- Monday 2 December 4.30pm to 8pm – Engagement event Cranleigh Parish Hall
- Wednesday 4 December 11:30am to 3pm – Engagement event Cranleigh Parish Hall
- Wednesday 4 December 4 pm to 6.45pm - Business-only event Cranleigh Parish Hall
- Wednesday 4 to Tuesday 17 December – Proposals on display at Cranleigh Library and Elmbridge retirement village
- Monday 9 December – Engagement presentation, Elmbridge Retirement village
- Sunday 22 December – Engagement at Cranleigh Family Park Run
- Thursday 9 January - Engagement presentation, Cranleigh Youth Council
If you would like to see the detailed design of Fountain Square, or if you would like to get in contact with the project team, please email: cranleighhighstreet@surreycc.gov.uk
Funding
The project is being funded by a range of sources with the £3.9 million budget made up of capital investment from Surrey County Council, Waverley Borough Council Community Infrastructure Levy funding; Section 106 Developer contributions and a grant from UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF).