More flats in Bognor 'will not help regeneration'

The prospect of some 168 new seafront apartments remains as a controversial aspect of the town's redevelopment even as it is delayed for up to three years.

Formal agreement for the deferral until March 31, 2012, at the latest was given by Arun district councillors who decided the extra time was a sensible response to the country's current dire economic conditions.

The council's development partner, St Modwen Properties, will provide three monthly reports about the impact of the economic climate on the ambitious 100m schemes for Hothamton and the Regis Centre.

As well as flats, perhaps up to nine storeys, the Regis Centre site proposals include a stage and screen venue as well as a ten-pin bowling alley and bars and restaurants.

Hopes of a planning application by the end of last year were wrecked by the recession to cause St Modwen to ask for the further extension in its development agreement with the council.

Cllr Paul Wells said the delay was the perfect chance for Arun to take stock of Bognor's regeneration plans.

"The council should actively review what it is doing with the regeneration of Bognor.

"We don't want more residential units along the seafront. We have got our fair share of flats there.

"The new ones look nice but they are not going to regenerate Bognor," he said.

Cllr Simon McDougall said: "Hopefully, there will not be any more flats along the seafront.

"I would like to see common sense prevail on many of the other issues in the current scheme that are causing anger in town," he stated.

"Hopefully, Arun can use this time to take a proper opportunity to review the issues and build a relationship with the people of Bognor.

"So, that when we are in a position to move forward again, we can go forward united in the town and not have the situation we have at the moment where some parts of the scheme are agreeable and others are not."

Cllr Norman Dingemans, in charge of Arun's economic regeneration policies, said St Modwen remained committed to Bognor.

The council was equally committed to keeping to the development agreement which it had signed with the company. This was for mixed use schemes on both sites.

He stressed: "This is not the time to have faint hearts and to try to go back to the beginning.

"These are exciting times for Bognor. Unfortunately, this scheme is slowing down but all the others are going ahead."

Arun's leader, Cllr Gill Brown, said she was sure St Modwen would continue the consultation which had been a feature of its work of the past three years.

"I am very pleased the company is so committed to this scheme," she explained.

"The economic situation is not unique to Bognor. Other schemes are being postponed or even abandoned. This is just deferred. This is a sensible timescale with St Modwen."

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