THE SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK
Capron House, The Park Headquarters

South Downs National Park HQ - Capron House, Midhurst

AFTER 60 YEARS in the making the day when the South Downs National Park became a reality on the 31st March 2010. In small offices in North Street, Midhurst, the Establishment Team under the interim CEO Richard Shaw are hard at work.(Picture above: Capron House, The new HQ)


AN HQ HAS BEEN CHOSEN FOR THE SOUTH DOWNS NATIONAL PARK
Establishment Team"A headquarters in West Sussex has been chosen for the new South Downs National Park Authority (SDNPA) following a consultation.The authority is looking at buying Capron House in Midhurst, which used to be known as Midhurst Grammar School.The new park authority began work on 1 April, to prepare to take on full statutory powers and functions from April next year."
Picture above courtesy of the SDNPA - CEO Mr Richard Shaw and his team
Read the full account on the BBC here.



MIDHURST AT THE CENTRE OF THE PARK.
Geographically Midhurst can rightly claim to be at the centre of the park. The above map illustrates this. Now, in addition, Midhurst is to become the administrative centre too. How is this going to affect the town?

BREAKING NEWS -December 15th 2010

STOCKLEY TRADING MIDHURST - equestrian (horse tack) and outdoor clothing store North St, Midhurst opened on Tuesday 23nd November. Opening times are 9-5pm weekdays and 8.30 - 5.30pm Saturdays. 01730 814779. Shop Manager Sarah Morley. sarah@stockleyonline.co.uk (management and staffing only). sales @stockleyonline.co.uk
Nearest car park: North St - 3 mins away. Also Seven Fish Restaurant & Coffee Lounge/Bar with Wi-Fi are adjacent. See this picture.

The Real Flower Company - shop opened in West St on Thursday 2nd December. Head Office tel. no : 01730 818300

EMPTY SHOPS & BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES IN MIDHURST.
There are 3 renovated shop premises awaiting tenants in West St. The former Parkland Motors showroom in North St , (a Cowdray property called Whitehorn House) has been let to Mr Rohilla of Cotehurst Ltd - A pharmacy . The existing premises near the Fish and Chip Shop will close when fitting out of the new premises has been completed.

See below 2 other shops have recently opened in West St and another, Marmadukes, in Rumbolds Hill - owner Carlo Genziani 01252 793851 and 07789 437043. The former Halifax premises are available in North St - good position.

There are two other premises in Rumbolds Hill available to let. Sussex House on the corner of West Street and Red Lion St, adjoining the Spread Eagle Hotel - a Cowdray property - is about to be redeveloped into two shops and three residential units. Planning permission is being sought and if the go-ahead is granted work will commence in April. Timing for occupancy is set for circa June 2011. To make enquiries phone 01730 812423 or make enquiries@cowdray.co.uk For more about EMPTY SHOPS in Midhurst.

New Housing Planned. The SDNA has given its provisional blessing - with provisos - to the latest development plans for the King Edward V11 Hospital site 3 miles outside Midhurst on the sandstone ridge to the North of the town. 400 new dwellings including care homes are planned with retention of the main Listed Building. There is a lot of opposition to the size of the development locally and in Haslemere. A public briefing meeting scheduled for December 2nd had to be postponed because of the snowy weather. To keep in touch go to www.chichester. gov.uk

Stockley's window (right).

World-wide Midhurst is only really known in polo circles as the centre of British polo with the Veuve Clicquot Cup at the 'top of the bill' as the main event in July every year. Otherwise it is hardly known. Midhurst is an old Tudor market town with a long history. But its claim to attention today - apart from now having Capron House as the park's HQ - is its central position in West Sussex where roads north to south and east to west meet in North Street. It has three hotels - if you include the truly excellent Park House at Bepton - and probably two dozen B&B's (new B&B's are coming on stream all the time).

Midhurst is a small, compact town. It is easy to get around. There are two main car parks: North St and The Grange, at either end of the town. The car park closest to the South Downs National Park HQ is North Street, just across the road. Adjoining this car park is the bus station.

In April the SDNPA starts work in earnest - taking over planning for example. During 2011 and 2012 the authority expect to take on 60 or so new employees. Are some of these employees going to be resident in or near the town? We don't know yet. There is not much new housing in the pipe line. King Edward 7 Hospital redevelopment may have some flats and houses.

Midhurst in 2004 was given the accolade by Country Life Magazine as the second most desirable place to live in England, pipped at the post by Alnick in the Northumberland. Quality houses are always in demand and prices are expected to rise by at least 5% in 2011, according to top estate agents.

In August 2011 there is another event of seismic proportions which will affect the whole area: the opening in August of the twin-bore tunnel on the A3 at Hinhead will lop about 30 minutes off the journey time from London to Portsmouth. A bottle neck will be removed and motorists will be able to get to Midhurst even more quickly by coming off the A3 at the Petersfield roundabout. Property prices should soar and commentators say the ripple affect will be felt all along the south coast. More travellers will come to, and through, Midhurst. Goodwood is already a magnet.

BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
Like lots of towns - not just small market towns - Midhurst lost a number of retail outlets in the recent recession; and there are still a number of closures occurring as some elderly folk retire. However, a total transformation of the town is underway - and its very exciting.

Throughout the summer and autumn of 2010 painters and decorators were everywhere. And, if anything, the pace has accelerated as business folk have woken up to the opportunities which lie ahead. In the knowledge that Midhurst, like a shy flower, will open it petals to the world next year, 'big hitters' online are moving into premises in the town With so many people passing through Midhurst, eye catching premises are seen as a good way of advertising a brand, providing a human face to an impersonal business operation and a way of welcoming shoppers to a relaxed place to view and buy products. This particularly applies to products where the texture, fit, smell, taste and appearance are an important part of their make-up, and which cannot be communicated through a website. (Picture left: empty shops in West St on 10/11/2010)

It's no surprise, then, to have Stockley Trading in North St - equestrian supplies and outdoor clothing - and The Real Flower Company as newcomers to the town. Both have a substantial online operation. They join two other online traders already established here. Rainmac in West St, and Frasers Menswear in North St, a traditional menswear shop which has recently added online fulfillment to its established rental business (Black Tie and Kilt Hire)

Traditional retailers which have flourished recently include Lucy Griffith's Cabbage White -"wonderful things for your home and garden" in Knockhundred Row. Set up about 5 years ago, Lucy decided at the outset to agggresively market the shop, and not just wait for footfall. She persuaded many shoppers to leave their email addresses which were then used to build a mailing list for her monthly newsletter. Many clients lived far a way so a visit to Midhurst had to have a purpose. By making sure she had in stock exactly what the client wanted - often getting merchandise to order - Lucy has built up a loyal and appreciative clientele. She has a website too.

Another well-established business in the town is Violet Designs with two showrooms for kitchens, bedrooms, home-offices and upmarket appliances from Neff, Falcon, Mercury and Rangemaster. With a very high profle for Kitchen Design in Google, Violet have won business throughout West Sussex, Hampshire and Surrey with clients as far a field as Richmond and Wimbledon. Fast roads enable staff to reach appointments quickly and easily whilst clients enjoy the reverse journey to a relaxed showroom environment. This invariably leads to the day spent exploring this wonderful area and finding some of the secret places which abound in Midhurst. And, of course, visiting Cowdray Castle overlooking the serpentine River Rother.

Shops which have recently moved into Midhurst include The Upholsterer with eye catching premises in North St. Laura changes the window display every week and maintains visual interest for passers-by. Marmadukes in the narrow part of Rumbolds Hill, was established about 4 months ago and creates visual interest everyday by piling goods high on the pavement adjoining their entrance. By constantly re-working the display the shop attracts numerous visitors to their rooms of vintage clothing and collectables. Marmadukes also open on Sundays - which demonstrates a go-go mindset and an appreciation of what's required in a tourist-oriented town .

In West Street there have been two new arrivals: Kiss Chase Kids - childrens clothes - and Truffle - ladies shoe boutique. The Real Flower Company have premises in West Street, tempted in part by Midhurst's reputation as a wedding town, the Walled Garden at Cowdray having many devotees.

A new pharmacy with other related products run by Mr Rohilla of Cotehurst Ltd is opening soon in Whitehorn House - tormerly Parkland Motors showroom - the existing shop closing in North St

There are a number of renovated shops in West Street awaiting tennants. Charles Burton's The Town House - upmarket B&B 01730 814931 - has a potential site for an upmarket restaurant. We used to have three quality restaurants, the best known Gaudi's in Church Hill closed on the retirement of the owners. The only top restaurant in the area is The Duke of Cumberland at Henley, three miles out of town on the Haslemere road.

Visitors to Midhurst have a choice of public transport or car. From London Waterloo trains run frequently to Haslemere and take about 50 minutes or a little longer. You then catch a bus - or taxi - to Midhurst from outside the station . This takes about 35 minutes and you arrive at Midhurst's bus station immediately across the road from The South Downs National Park HQ, Capron House. It's an easy walk to The Spread Eagle Hotel (7mins) or to the Angel Hotel (3mins). There are several top class B&B's in the centre of town and other good B&B's on the outskirts. Easebourne is 12-15 mins walk away with more B&B's. Those arriving by car have a choice of country B&B's and the Park House Hotel at Bepton as well as Midhurst's in-town B&B's

There are several mid-level restaurants in Midhurst and numerous coffee shops, cafés and a deli. For more information please go to Midhurst Pages menu.

 

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