Affordable housing '˜should be key' to civic centre proposal

Affordable housing should be a key part of future plans to redevelop Adur Civic Centre, a Labour councillor has argued.
S16839H13 SH NEW CIVIC CENTRE PIC S.G. 16.04.2013

New Civic Centre at Shoreham.  The Old Civic Centre ENGSUS00120130416112349S16839H13 SH NEW CIVIC CENTRE PIC S.G. 16.04.2013

New Civic Centre at Shoreham.  The Old Civic Centre ENGSUS00120130416112349
S16839H13 SH NEW CIVIC CENTRE PIC S.G. 16.04.2013 New Civic Centre at Shoreham. The Old Civic Centre ENGSUS00120130416112349

Adur District Council last week revealed plans to demolish the centre, in Ham Road, Shoreham, and carry out design work on a mixed-use scheme.

A 30,000 square foot office block could also be built by the council on the centre’s car park at a cost of £10million.

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Cabinet members discussed the plans on Wednesday after the Herald went to press.

Speaking before the meeting, Labour Eastbrook councillor Les Alden said: “I am glad they are getting on with something.

“The provision of more jobs is a good thing as it’s important for the local economy. The thing I am most interested in is the phase two plans, to build houses, but I would like to see the promotion of affordable housing.”

The council’s latest plans follow the breakdown of a £60million redevelopment deal with KSD SteelRock last year.

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The civic centre has been empty since January, when staff moved into the newly-refurbished Shoreham Centre, in Pond Road.

Demolition of the centre would remove the council’s liability for business rates and enable site surveys and ground investigations to take place, ahead of design work.

The first phase of development would see the office block constructed, with a scheme on the site of the demolished centre brought forward afterwards.

UKIP councillor Ken Bishop requested details of sewers underneath the site prior to the cabinet meeting.

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He was concerned their presence could restrict any potential development of the centre.

Council head of economic growth James Appleton confirmed the presence of two sewers but said it was not considered they would limit development.

He said: “It is not considered that the sewers would limit the development potential of both sites.

“There are options to build either side of the main sewer or divert this sewer to the western boundary of the main site.

“The second sewer only affects a small portion of the car park site and therefore is not a constraint to any development.”