VOTE: Plans discussed for 1,000 new Littlehampton homes

A study has confirmed that a “mixed use” regeneration scheme, with the main emphasis on housing, would be viable. It would also include the creation of a tidal lagoon to the west of the site, which as well as acting as a floodwater storage area, could be used for recreational purposes such as sailing.

Arun District Council and landowners in the West Bank area together commissioned consultants to investigate whether the major development would be feasible, and their report has confirmed it would be possible.

However, as much of the West Bank land is in high-level flood risk areas, the scheme would need to be protected by expensive, substantial flood defences, and any development would have to take into account other issues such as the impact on ecology and the countryside, historic buildings in the Rope Walk shipyard complex and possible contamination from a former rubbish tip north of Littlehampton Marina.

The challenges could be overcome, but any potential developers would need to be reassured that Arun’s new local plan, currently being drawn up, would look favourably on the principle of such a scheme, Arun’s senior economic development officer, Anthony Everitt, told the council’s Littlehampton regeneration sub-committee on Tuesday (August 7) night.

Land value

His report to the meeting stated: “Viability will be challenging, due to the high up-front infrastructure and abnormal development costs, and the scheme will be unlikely to be able to provide 30 per cent affordable housing, but sensitivity analysis does indicate that increasing development density up to 1,000 (housing) units and/or improved sales values should generate sufficient land value to provide the commercial incentive to the council and landowners to progress the proposals.”

Consultants GL Hearn said any development would need to have safer road access, protected from possible flooding, unlike the current, low-level route of Ferry Road.

Beach ward councillor Dr James Walsh raised concerns about a suggestion that there could be housing close to the tidal lagoon and possibly north of the A259.

“That takes it right into the Climping Gap and could pave the way for an assault on this strategic gap,” he warned, adding that countryside north of the A259 was “very properly lauded as Arun’s gateway to the South Downs National Park, and vice-versa”.

Lagoon

However, Mr Everett assured him there was no intention to build on the western side of the lagoon, in the Climping Gap, and it was likely that the development would extend only into a small area beyond existing brownfield sites.

He added that he had been contacted by some developers wanting to learn more about the site. However, he added: “I remain unconvinced that any developer is going to make any commitment without the planning assurances.”

The sub-committee recommended that the full council should approve continuing discussions between officers and interested developers, but that no further detailed work should be carried out until after the local plan was adopted, which is expected to be in April, 2014.

What do you think?

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