The consultation on the draft Town centre supplementary planning document (SPD) is now closed. The following documents were published for comment from 8 May 2026 until 5pm on 5 June 2026.

Representations made during the consultation period are now being considered.

The Town centre SPD reflects and expands upon the town centre and character policies in the adopted Crawley borough Local Plan 2023 to 2040, providing supporting guidance to assist applicants in meeting the Local Plan requirements.

This includes the policies in relation to:

• context and character
• vitality and viability – ground and upper floor uses
• sequential assessment and impact test
• design guidance for:
  • shopfronts
  • advertisements and signs
  • outdoor seating
  • communications infrastructure
• town centre living

On adoption, the SPD will form part of the development plan for Crawley and will be an important consideration in determining planning applications. Once adopted it will replace the Town centre SPD 2016.

The SPD is accompanied by a draft consultation statement and a sustainability appraisal and strategic environmental assessment (SA and SEA) screening report.

The SPD, and its accompanying documents, is also available to view at the following locations:

Crawley Town Hall

• address: The Boulevard, Crawley RH10 1UZ
• telephone: 01293 438000
• opening hours Monday to Friday 9am to 4pm

Crawley Library

• address: Southgate Avenue, Southgate, Crawley RH10 6HG
• telephone: 01293 651744
• opening hours: Monday to Friday 9am to 7pm and Saturday 9am to 5pm

We are strongly committed to revitalising and enhancing the role of the town centre as a place to work, visit and live.

This SPD is about supporting sustainable regeneration and development in the town centre. It provides guidance to ensure that development contributes positively to Crawley’s role as a competitive retail and leisure destination; achieving a balance between delivering the commercial space needed to support sustainable economic growth and the delivery of well-designed new homes to enhance the role of the town centre as a vibrant neighbourhood. It expands upon the following Local Plan policies:

• Policy EC2: Economic growth in main employment areas 
• Policy EC5: Primary shopping area 
• Policy EC6: Development sites within the town centre boundary 
• Policy EC7: Retail and leisure development outside the primary shopping area