VOTE: Dreams of £150m Worthing gateaway set to become reality
Aerial view of Worthing Gateway from Chapel Road
AFTER more than a decade of waiting, residents’ hopes for a major revamp of Teville Gate bringing vital regeneration are just weeks from being realised.
More than 1,000 jobs are to be created with an ambitious £150m plan from Hanson Capital Management, which has received strong backing within the town.
Those behind the much-delayed project believe it will kick-start wider investment in the area, with the striking 229-property twin-tower design providing a landmark gateway to Worthing.
The project gained unanimous backing at a meeting of borough planners last week. It includes restaurants and a nine-screen cinema operated by movie chain Vue Entertainment. There are also plans for a 100-bedroom hotel plus business space, coffee shops and parking for around 850 vehicles.
The application (which requires final secretary of state approval next month) also features a conference centre and a Sainsbury’s store, which developers claim is critical to the overall scheme’s viability.
As part of the deal, the town will gain a £2m windfall from a community enhancement agreement with developers. This includes funds for providing social housing elsewhere in Worthing as only seven per cent of properties at Teville Gate would be designated affordable homes.
The windfall would include around £500,000 to be spent on enhancing public space around Worthing station.
But despite attracting considerable praise, residents have expressed concerns over parking issues and increased traffic in the surrounding roads. The Worthing Society has also criticised the height of the scheme’s twin residential towers at 18 and 25 storeys each.
In response, developers explained they have amended its designs. West Sussex County Council’s highways department has also carried out extensive traffic modelling to pedestrianise the site and replace the existing roundabouts in Chapel Road with traffic lights.
Site designer Russ Drage said: “Teville Gate will make a significant difference to Worthing and we’ve spent a lot of time looking at the environmental impact of the scheme.”
John Desmond, MD of Hanson Capital Management, added: “There’s been a lot of effort and emotion put into the vision that we have for this site.
“We’re really pleased it is being recommended for approval, but there’s a lot more hard work to do yet. It’s not just about the 1,000 jobs that will be created or the extra business rates from it – the development will help put Worthing on the map in terms of tourism.” The scheme is expected to be completed by the end of 2014.
For information, visit www.worthinggateway.co.uk.
Do you like the plans for Worthing’s £150m gateway? Cast your vote in the panel to the right of the screen, and leave your comments below.
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Monday 28 May 2012
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