Expansion plans for Worthing creative hub signed off

Plans to expand a Worthing creative hub have been given the go-ahead by borough councillors.
What an expanded Colonnade House could look likeWhat an expanded Colonnade House could look like
What an expanded Colonnade House could look like

Colonnade House has seen its gallery space and artistic studios running at close to capacity this year.

Worthing Borough Council wants to provide even more space for artists, designers and tech start-ups with a place to grow and is looking to expand the building in Warwick Street.

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Plans have been worked up for the redevelopment of the wider site, incorporating numbers 5 and 7 High Street as well as 52 Ann Street into a single building.

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This will include upgrading the current facilities, installing ultrafast gigabit broadband and creating new studio units for micro-entrepreneurs.

Six new homes, a cafe and further meeting and exhibition space could also be created.

The project was given the thumbs up by the council’s joint strategic committee last Tuesday (November 3).

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A full business case including costings would come back before councillors early next year, while construction could start as early as autumn 2021.

Officers described how alongside the redevelopment of Union Place, this would provide another improved arrival point to Worthing town centre.

Kevin Jenkins, executive member for regeneration, described Colonnade House as ‘such an important fulcrum for the town’.

He added: “We are here to invest in our town to create jobs for the people who live in our town.”

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Dan Humphreys, leader of the council, talked about the lingering impact Covid could have on commuting, especially to London, and the importance of investing in these sorts of business spaces.

He said: “These hubs right across the country are going to be absolutely vital in the economic recovery and just the knowledge they are on the way will be really critical to local areas and towns’ ability to start to recover.”

It is anticipated the plans would lead to the creation of 20 new direct jobs and 25 indirect jobs.