Hundreds of affordable homes could be built at Teville Gate as part of the transformation of the gateway to Worthing town centre.
Worthing Borough Council has been approached by housing association Hyde with a proposal to build 206 shared ownership and 137 social rent flats on the site, along with a supermarket, shops and 340 parking spaces, of which 115 would be set aside for residents.
The Council bought the site for more than £7.4 million in 2021 after frustration that a succession of owners had failed to bring forward coherent and sustainable development proposals, leaving the key site, close to the A24 and Worthing railway station, an eyesore.
Hyde contacted Worthing Borough Council's major projects team after hearing the authority wanted to speed up plans to build much-needed homes in the town centre.
Adur & Worthing Councils' Joint Strategic Committee will consider a report on the scheme on 16th March 2022. Councillors will then be asked to allow council officers to draft terms for the sale of the land to Hyde, and for officers to work with the not-for-profit organisation to design an appropriate scheme for the site.
The Council would seek an independent valuation of the site to ensure it gained the best possible price for the land. Hyde would own the land but the Council would have the right to nominate people from its housing list for the social rent flats.
If planning permission is granted, the two organisations will then seek to secure a multimillion-pound grant from Homes England for the project.
Teville Gate is to be redeveloped to bring it back into public use in the short term. Plans include space for local pop-up businesses, a performance venue for up to 800 people, a skate park and community gardens.
Worthing Borough Council's executive member for regeneration, Cllr Nicky Waight, said:
“Teville Gate has been an eyesore at the entrance to the town centre for years. The Council's leadership in purchasing the site was the catalyst that prompted Hyde to approach us.
“Turning this long-awaited regeneration opportunity into affordable homes for hundreds of people, many of them Worthing residents on our housing list, would be a huge positive for the borough. We want to revitalise the town centre by bringing more people to live there too.
“Hyde has a strong track record in delivering large regeneration schemes in Sussex and I'm excited about the prospect of working with the company on this important project.”
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