Fresh approach to Beach Green plans presented to public

Developer Wilbo’s plans for a café and restaurant, along with landscaping work, were exhibited at Shoreham Beach Primary School, in Shingle Road, on Tuesday and Wednesday.

New designs were drawn up after public reaction to initial ideas for revamping the entire south side of the green – likened at a March meeting to a ‘theme park’.

“We have taken on board quite a bit of feedback,” said Corin Morton, director of CDMS architects, who spoke about the potential for a community space as part of scaled-back plans.

He added: “We have got two design options that have been generated from feedback received from local residents and which have been simply designed to create discussion.”

The exhibition saw two designs put forward – though Mr Morton said elements of both, or a completely new approach, could be put forward as a final plan.

Option one included a rectangular, ‘offset box’ design for the two-storey café, with timber landscaping.

Option two was a more curved construction, sited on a grass-covered bund and vertical louvers providing shade for the first-floor terrace.

The latter option included the potential for an eco-friendly green roof.

Both options provided a range of different landscaping features, including an ‘interactive water feature’ along the lines of Worthing’s splash pad, near Splashpoint leisure centre.

But Mr Morton said it was ‘too early to say’ whether the developer intended to pay for landscaping, or if the council would be asked to foot the bill.

He added there was no current timetable for submitting a formal planning application.

Wilbo’s owner Brian Wilson previously told the Herald his proposal would only work if the council pledged to make the green ‘very well landscaped’, as his proposal would not worked if it was ‘dumped on a worn piece of grass’.

What do you think of the plans? Email your thoughts to [email protected] or write to Cannon House, Chatsworth Road, Worthing, BN11 1NA.