Redevelopment of Worthing college campus land proposed

Land at a Worthing college could be redeveloped for new housing if permission is granted next week.

The vacant refectory building at Northbrook Metropolitan College’s Broadwater campus could be demolished to make way for a new two, three and four part storey residential apartment block.

This would contain 23 new flats, with a section of the existing car park also being redeveloped to allow room for vehicle parking, a secure cycle storage area, bin storage and landscaping.

The north-west corner of the sites includes the old cafeteria building, which has been redundant since the canteen was relocated into the main college building, making the land available for redevelopment.

Worthing Borough council’s planning committee will consider the application next Wednesday (August 26).

The staff car parking would be reconfigured with access for the new development from Carnegie Road.

The proposals feature sustainable development measures such as solar panels and green roofs.

The development would also provide 30 per cent affordable housing.

According to the application any profits from the redevelopment would be recycled back into the college.

It highlights how there are several services within close walking distance including schools, open spaces and transport links to Worthing town centre.

At the time of writing their report, officers said there had been 11 objections on behalf of the occupiers of Carnegie Gardens.

They argue the new building would be out of keeping with the surrounding properties, constitutes overdevelopment and also raised the potential for noise and disturbance, overshadowing, loss of privacy, insufficient car parking and the impact on the surrounding roads.

Officers concluded: “When weighing these matters overall, it is considered the harm identified would not outweigh the benefits; the loss of education land is a consequence of a masterplan led development which has updated and improved provision on the campus overall; the lines of sight towards neighbours can be partially mitigated by a combination of balcony screens and obscure glass to some windows.

“On the balance of all factors taken together the proposal is considered an acceptable form of sustainable development.”

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