Draft Vision for Claygate

Draft Vision and action plan for Claygate

Claygate is an attractive village with a distinctive character and a powerful sense of community and identity. Surrounded by woodland and open countryside and with easy access to London, it is a place where people aspire to live and are reluctant to leave. 

The village has two centres, the tree-lined Parade with its independent shops and cafes and the old village with its small historic High Street and village green. Together these will ensure a thriving, sustainable local economy and provide places to meet, socialise and connect. With its central railway station, quiet roads, and village atmosphere, Claygate will draw in visitors from urban areas to visit cafes, shops and enjoy easy access to the green spaces and surrounding countryside during the day, and restaurants and pubs at night. 

Claygate has an attractive mix of low density historic and contemporary housing which sit well together. New development will be guided by the Elmbridge Council Design Code and will ensure all developments fit within the existing character of Claygate respecting prevailing heights and roof lines throughout the village and focusing on smaller homes/dwellings. These developments will increase the diversity of housing tenure to include affordable housing. 

Claygate will be a safe and secure place to live for people of all ages. It will continue to be a socially responsible and caring community with a high degree of participation in voluntary activities and an inclusive range of social, cultural, and sporting activities. Local initiatives will support the health and wellbeing of all Claygate residents particularly those most in need.

Thriving Claygate

• explore the potential for a Village Business Initiative to protect and promote independent shops and small businesses with a collective Claygate website to promote everything the village has to offer
• promote a café culture and other initiatives such as a village market, to boost footfall for local shops and maintain the vitality and viability of the village local centres
• improve parking provision and pricing to reflect the needs of local shoppers, residents, and commuters
• reduce traffic congestion in The Parade and surrounding streets
• improve the experience for pedestrians in the village especially those with reduced mobility or impaired sight by removing street clutter, installing seating, pedestrian crossings, etc. 
• improve access to Claygate railway station for all users including the railway footbridge
• provide clear signage to car parks, amenities, etc and provide wayfinding throughout the village
• improve public transport provision, links and connectivity throughout the village and to other parts of the borough

Sustainable Living

• promote good design in all new developments to meet the requirements of the Elmbridge Design Code and Claygate Village Design Statement
• increase the diversity of housing tenure to include affordable housing and small units for younger people and those who are downsizing
• produce a Development Brief for Torrington Lodge Car Park
• new developments will showcase sustainable building practices and will encourage 20% biodiversity net gain
• promote active travel within the village through improvements to pedestrian and cycle routes and associated facilities
• improve traffic management and road safety within the village
• preserve and enhance the provision of and access to green spaces in and around the village including the recreation ground, community gardens, allotments, village greens and green infrastructure links to neighbouring areas 
• increase planting including trees, tubs, and troughs to create a visually attractive street scene and encourage biodiversity throughout the village
• promote the use of sustainable and environmentally friendly products and practices by local businesses and residents

Our Village Community

• ensure the provision of sufficient places in local schools for Claygate families
• create and maintain high quality, imaginative and safe spaces for children and young people to play and socialise
• explore opportunities for a gym or other physical fitness facility in the village
• maintain and enhance the provision and accessibility of health and wellbeing facilities to meet the needs of residents of all ages
• improve awareness of the health and wellbeing activities and facilities on offer in the village
• encourage the provision of spaces where people can socialise, congregate, connect, engage with, and participate in activities that will benefit both individual wellbeing and the wellbeing and resilience of the community
• establish a multi-purpose community hub to serve people of all ages

The Draft Action Plan for you review on the council's website.