In order to deliver on the economic growth and COVID-19 objectives of the Growth Programme, the council works with numerous partners to deliver the most efficient and effective programme and to pool funding and resources.
Through this partnership approach, the project has pooled funding from the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership (C2C LEP) grants which total £1 million; £7 million from the Worthing Borough Council Community Infrastructure Levy and developer contributions as well as a £5 million capital allocation from West Sussex County Council. This enabled the Worthing Public Realm Improvements programme to develop eight priority schemes. The regeneration of Portland Road has been identified as the first priority scheme of the programme with a further commitment made to regenerate Railway Approach as part of the second phase of the Public Realm Improvements Programme. The Portland Road regeneration will uplift one of Worthing’s busiest high streets and encourage an evening economy through new paving, landscaping features, lighting and digital connectivity.
The Portland Road design was jointly developed by WSCC and WBC, working closely together and consulting on proposals to enhance the urban landscape and accessibility, with new paved areas, reduced clutter on the highway, new street lighting, urban realm furniture, trees and quality sustainable low maintenance landscaping being introduced. As a result of the funding contributions from the LEP and WSCC as well as project delivery resource from WBC, work was able to start on site on 3 June 2021, with a local contractor, Landbuild, and is due to completed by end of May/June 2022.
The Railway Approach project aims to develop the station gateway from Worthing Station to the seafront through the town centre, by improving the public realm such as a new layout, paving, lighting and landscaping. The vision is to also create new cycleway and cycle hubs, as a part of the comprehensive Teville Gate regeneration site which sits opposite Worthing Station and highlights the growth in the area through its newly regenerated office blocks. The project has a strategic role in supporting town centre growth and revitalising the economy. Railway Approach is the second phase of the Worthing Public Realm Improvement project and with support from WBC, WSCC has secured a grant contribution from the C2C LEP to deliver the project. WSCC has completed the preliminary designs for the project following a public engagement exhibition event run by the WSCC project team and is proceeding into detailed design.