Review into improving Worthing town centre for shoppers and businesses

Thursday, 29 October 2026 at 12:05

By Lily Wells, Local Democracy Reporter

Worthing Town Centre Credit: Google Maps

Councillors are to examine how Worthing town centre could be improved following concerns over disruption to businesses, the condition of the high street and the impact of major building projects.

The review will take place at the joint overview and scrutiny committee meeting on Wednesday, November 4.

Representatives from councils, businesses and other organisations will discuss how they can work together to improve the area.

This follows concerns raised by residents and businesses over the impacts of the Worthing Heat Network project and the more general state of the town.

Major projects expected to affect the area include the heat network and developments planned at Union Place, Teville Gate and the Grafton car park site.

The report also highlights more general pressures affecting high streets, including rising costs, online shopping and shoplifting.

Councillor Carl Walker requested the review, which is designed to find a way for organisations to work together more effectively to improve Worthing town centre to be ‘a destination for tourism and commerce.’

Representatives from Worthing Borough Council, West Sussex County Council, Worthing Business Improvement District, energy company Hemiko and other local business groups have been invited to speak at the meeting.

They will provide a five-minute statement and answer questions about what is working well, where there is room for improvement and what changes could make a difference.

The committee could then make recommendations to the Adur and Worthing joint strategic committee but no changes have yet been agreed.

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