Green light for Worthing scheme
Published: 26 September, 2011
Worthing Borough Council has given the go ahead for Hanson Capital Management’s £150m Worthing Gateway, the first major town centre commercial scheme in the region for over 20 years
The Worthing Gateway plans, designed by Russ Drage Architects, comprise a 9 screen multiplex Cinema, under offer to Vue, with a capacity of 1,300 seats; 260 new homes; an 88-bedroom high quality hotel; new restaurants and coffee shops; a new Sainsbury’s supermarket with a sales area of 50,000 sq ft; a new conference and exhibition centre that will host a wide range of events, from conferences and exhibitions to arts, private functions and community events; a health and fitness centre;a office suites/business space and extensive landscaped public spaces.
In addition there will be car parking for 967 cars, together with disabled, parent/child, cycle and motorcycle parking, in two parking areas : a below ground car park of about 400 spaces and decked car parking with about 560 spaces.
The scheme is designed to enhanced pedestrian circulation connecting the town centre with the station.
John Desmond, managing director of Hanson Capital Management said: “This is great news for Worthing’s future prosperity. We have had very strong support from residents who want to get the project moving so that the long-term Teville Gate eyesore can be finally cleared away and a new start made on this key town centre site.
“The supermarket and cinema are already under offer and discussions are progressing with occupiers for the Hotel and Conference and Exhibition Centre. Discussions are also taking place with national and regional restaurant groups.”
Construction work is scheduled to start in mid 2012 with the completion of the project by Christmas 2014. Blue Sky Planning are planning consultants. HNG and Savills are joint letting agents.
