Littlehampton Town Centre Public Realm Improvements
Arun District Council has taken one step further in seeking funding to support the development of Littlehampton’s Town Centre public realm.
The Council has been developing design plans to improve publically owned spaces in Littlehampton Town Centre which include paving, seating, lighting and planting. This is to enhance the connectivity and pedestrian experience for the local community and visitors to the area.
The Council’s support follows an overwhelmingly positive public consultation on the outline plans for the public realm enhancements, created by landscape architects LDA Design. A Stage 1 funding application has been submitted by the Council to the Coastal Communities Fund seeking support for this multi-million pound improvement scheme for the following areas within the town centre:
- Train Station to Arundel Road;
- High Street;
- East Street through to High Street junction and Beach Road;
- Surrey Street to Look & Sea Centre, Pier Road and New Road;
- War Memorial Roundabout.
Each phase of the above scheme can be delivered as and when funding becomes available.
The Coastal Communities Fund will announce in August which Coastal Communities have been invited to make a Stage 2 application. Successful applicants from this process will then be awarded some or all the funding to support their projects. It is anticipated that applications for the Fund will be very competitive which is why the Council submitted such a detailed design.
Should the Council’s bid be successful it is anticipated that work could commence on the project by September 2017.
Littlehampton Regeneration Sub-Committee supported the project at its meeting on Wednesday 6 July and Full Council on Wednesday 20 July 2016 agreed to a supplementary estimate of £75,000 being made available to help develop in greater detail the town centre design plans to meet the Stage 2 Coastal Communities funding criteria.
Councillor Mrs Gillian Brown, Leader of Arun District Council and Cabinet Member for Council Strategy, said: “I am delighted the Council has taken these important steps in developing outline plans and trying to secure external funding to enhance the town for the local community and visitors to the area.
Investment in public realm is a key element to the regeneration of a town centre and for attracting other investment into the town which has been evident in many coastal towns and cities across the country.”
For more information please visit the regeneration in Littlehampton webpage.