Range of uses for former Beales store approved

Beales before it closed earlier this year. Photo by Derek Martin

Developers are seeking to convert part of the first and second floors of 19-23 South Street into different flexible commercial units.

These could include co-working office space, a food court and gym.

Meanwhile former storage and office space accessed from Bank Passage in the centre of the site would be converted into 14 live/work units.

As part of the plans, the ground floor retail space would be retained and occupied by a variety of concessions and small businesses with the design following a ‘high quality arcade approach’.

A number of applications were approved by Worthing Borough Council’s planning committee on Wednesday night (August 26).

Helen Silman (Lab, Heene) said: “I think this sounds a marvellous possibility for the future because something has to be done. We can’t leave that whole corner empty. It shows great originality.”

Jim Deen (Lab Central) particularly welcomed the live/work units.

He said: “I just love it. I think it’s absolutely right here and we have got potential for a little gem there that could work so well.”

Back in 2018, developers were granted permission for 45 flats by converted upper floors and adding extra ones over Beales.

This sought to provide finance to enhance the retained but smaller department store.

However Beales went into administration at the start of 2020.

In response the developers have come back with revised uses for parts of the site.

The applicant is also seeking to amend the original permission to remove one floor at fourth floor level above the former retail arm of Beales and relocate these units across the first and second floors, and reduced the height of the approved new build elements elsewhere.

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