Development options for central Littlehampton car park to be explored

Arun District Council officers are set to investigate future possibilities for the St Martins car park behind Sainsbury’s.

The most recent work was undertaken in 2013 and considered a combination of mixed uses including leisure, retail and car parking.

But consultants found none of the options would be financially viable or attract a developer without a public subsidy and it was decided not to progress any development options further.

Since then the local plan has been adopted and the site identified as part of the Littlehampton growth area, which encourages development which supports the town’s retail, leisure and tourism functions and maintains appropriate levels of car parking.

This could include residential development to generate footfall and cross-subsidise other uses.

Arun officers believe it is now ‘timely’ to open discussions with potential development partners for some of the St Martins Car Park which could provide community uses as part of a mixed-use scheme.

The issue is set to be discussed by Arun’s Littehampton regeneration sub-committee on Wednesday June 10.

According to a report: “Officers would like to explore what proposals could provide the returns that a developer would require and also bring the greatest benefit to the local community.”

They are asking for permission to bring a further report back to members with conclusions and recommendations for options for a way forward to develop the site.

Officers added: “At this stage, and considering the viability issues previously identified, officers would wish to be less prescriptive in these discussions about what the council would wish to see included in the development to enable a viable scheme to be developed and engender commercial interest.

“If this can be achieved, then more detailed discussions can take place to explore what additionality can be brought to the scheme and that would meet the council’s requirements.”

They noted that since 2013 the Waitrose site had become vacant and although a planning application had been refused and dismissed on appeal, officers would take this potential development opportunity site into consideration as the options for the St Martins site are explored.