Worthing leaders working hard to bring forward town centre redevelopment

Worthing Borough Council leaders are pledging to keep on doing all they can to bring forward a major redevelopment of a town centre site.

Teville Gate is a major gateway site within a few minutes walk of the central train station and just off the A24.

Despite a number of attempts by developers to take proposals forward on the privately-owned plot, it remains a brownfield site in need of regeneration.

It was bought by Mosaique Global Investments Ltd in December 2015 with those behind the firm promising to deliver a “world-class development’ with both residential and business use.

After the firm delayed a proposed consultation with the local community, Worthing Borough Council says it is doing all it can to work with the developer to ensure firm plans are brought forward.

As part of the local authority’s commitment to the site, the council has secured a £5.6 million Local Growth Fund grant distributed through the Coast To Capital LEP towards the redevelopment of the centre of Worthing. This includes the Teville site.

It is now up to the owner of the site to draw up and submit detailed plans.

Cllr Bryan Turner, Worthing Borough Council’s executive member for regeneration, said:

“The Council is working closely with the owner of Teville Gate to ensure that its draft plans for the site are progressed and a detailed planning application is submitted as soon as possible.  

“The public consultation exercise originally planned for February has been delayed by the site owner as further negotiations are underway between the landowner and prospective occupiers of the proposed mixed use scheme.”

Teville Gate is one of the sites listed on the InvestAW website, which has been created by Adur & Worthing Councils to be the dedicated portal to bring investment into the area.

According to the website, Teville Gate offers potential to create a new mixed-use neighbourhood comprising residential, retail, leisure and other commercial uses.

It could also support a new public space creating new pedestrian walkways between the town centre and railway station.

A detailed planning application will have to be submitted which will include a further public consultation.

Cllr Turner made the comments in response to a written question from councillor Edward Crouch at at a recent full council meeting of the local authority.

Cllr Turner said:

“The developer has already undertaken a number of detailed site investigations and is keen to progress with the development on the basis that planning permission can be secured later in the year.

“At the same time negotiations are continuing with the owner of Teville Gate House to ensure that this is developed, ideally simultaneously with the main site, to secure the wider regeneration benefits of an enhanced route from the railway station to the town centre.  

“The award of over £5.5 million from the local growth fund to progress the redevelopment of brownfield sites in Worthing Town Centre has helped these negotiations to secure a more comprehensive redevelopment of the site.”