Successful design stage takes Littlehampton High Street plans forward | Latest news

Webchat

Successful design stage takes Littlehampton High Street plans forward

Successful design stage takes Littlehampton High Street plans forward

Littlehampton High Street

 

Ambitious plans to improve the look and feel of Littlehampton town centre are a step closer, following the completion of the detailed design stage.

The £3.5 million public realm project includes new pavements, road surfaces, planting and street furniture along the High Street, Beach Road, part of East Street, along with stretches of Clifton Road, Duke Street and St Martin’s Lane.

Edburton Contractors and Project Centre reviewed the original LDA Design Brief (2016) to create the detailed designs to deliver a new look for the town centre with the £3.5 million budget.

The next stage involves the preparation of detailed technical, structural and engineering plans before construction work can start on site.

Highlights of Littlehampton town centre improvements: -

  • A fresh, clean, vibrant look and feel for Littlehampton High Street
  • Give pedestrians priority over vehicles with wider pavements and improved road safety and traffic restriction measures
  • Make the most of Littlehampton’s architectural features and provide attractive new seating and greenery to create safe, welcoming spaces for people to sit and enjoy the lively High Street atmosphere
  • Improve accessibility and enjoyment for all visitors, including people with disabilities and families with young children
  • Provide a warmer welcome to the town centre with improved signage.

Councillor Andy Cooper, Chair of Arun’s Economic Committee says, “We are eager to see the town centre improvements completed as part of our wider regeneration ambitions for Littlehampton. Investment attracts investment and the High Street’s fresh new look will provide a more sociable and attractive environment.”

Littlehampton Town Mayor, Councillor Michelle Molloy says, “Littlehampton is a unique town with a thriving independent retail sector. The High Street improvements are designed to attract more shoppers and visitors to come and enjoy everything our lovely town has to offer.”

Funding of £3.5 million has come from the Government’s Coastal Communities Fund (£2.45m) Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership Local Growth Fund (£564,000) and £200,000 from both Arun District Council and Littlehampton Town Council.

The works are part of an overall £6 million regeneration plan to transform Littlehampton’s town centre. Arun District Council plans to apply for further external funding to complete the overall scheme, including the approach to the town from the railway station.

As part of the current contract, Project Centre and Edburton Contractors have completed the design stages for the proposed improvements from Littlehampton railway station (Terminus Road) to the High Street so that this phase is “shovel ready” if and when further funding is available.

Design proposals include: -

  • New paving along the pedestrian High Street, including Duke Street, Clifton Road and new paving along East Street. 
  • New CCTV camera (subject to Police & Operator agreement)
  • Increased number of trees
  • New crossing points along Beach Road
  • New power supplies (subject to agreement with UKPN) along the High Street for events
  • Attractive new street furniture including chairs, benches and bins
  • More disabled parking bays and improved access to the High Street
  • Road resurfacing along Beach Road, Duke Street and Clifton Road, with different coloured tarmac to highlight shared pedestrian and vehicle areas
  • Improvements to lighting
  • Wider footpaths across the entire scheme