A Vision and Masterplan for a Strategic Business Park Next to Gatwick Airport
Bayhorne Park, Gatwick
Bayhorne Park, Gatwick
HNW Architects were appointed by Surrey County Council to develop a strategic vision and masterplan for Bayhorne Park, a proposed employment-led development adjacent to Gatwick Airport. The site area of approximately 19 hectares consists of freehold land owned by the Council, along with adjoining parcels owned privately and by neighbouring Reigate and Banstead Borough Council.
The project sets out an ambitious yet sensitive vision for a new sustainable business park, comprising up to 750,000 sq. ft. GEA of high-quality commercial space. The scheme includes a flexible mix of unit sizes to support a wide range of businesses and employment types, with complementary commercial, retail, and leisure uses. In line with council policy, Bayhorne Park is positioned to be a major contributor to employment in Horley and to provide uses associated with Gatwick Airport.
Our masterplan adopts a landscape-led approach, aiming to deliver development that is environmentally responsible, commercially viable, and beneficial to the wider community. The proposals seek to:
• Preserve and enhance existing green assets, including mature trees and hedgerows.
• Introduce landscape buffers to screen and separate the site from surrounding residential areas and maintain open space between Horley and Gatwick.
• Incorporate sustainable urban drainage (SuDS), green roofs, and permeable paving to mitigate flood risk and manage surface water.
• Enhance biodiversity through the creation of green corridors and a measurable net gain in ecological value.
• Establish strong connectivity, with a focus on pedestrian and cycle routes and a clear, legible transport structure.
• Deliver a range of flexible employment spaces, supporting both local enterprise and larger business operations.
• Respect and respond to the site’s heritage and character, particularly in relation to listed buildings and the Ingrebourne River Valley.
• Promote high-quality urban design, ensuring the new business park is coherent, easy to navigate, and integrated into its setting.
• Preserve and enhance existing green assets, including mature trees and hedgerows.
• Introduce landscape buffers to screen and separate the site from surrounding residential areas and maintain open space between Horley and Gatwick.
• Incorporate sustainable urban drainage (SuDS), green roofs, and permeable paving to mitigate flood risk and manage surface water.
• Enhance biodiversity through the creation of green corridors and a measurable net gain in ecological value.
• Establish strong connectivity, with a focus on pedestrian and cycle routes and a clear, legible transport structure.
• Deliver a range of flexible employment spaces, supporting both local enterprise and larger business operations.
• Respect and respond to the site’s heritage and character, particularly in relation to listed buildings and the Ingrebourne River Valley.
• Promote high-quality urban design, ensuring the new business park is coherent, easy to navigate, and integrated into its setting.
The masterplan also includes a sustainable movement strategy, comprising improved active travel infrastructure, provision for multiple vehicular access points, and a potential Mobility Hub to support low-carbon transport.
Bayhorne Park represents a significant opportunity to bring forward an exemplar development in a highly strategic location — one that meets the area’s future employment needs while enhancing its environmental and social value.