In 2020 Worthing Borough Council produced this 194 page document. It is called the ‘Local Plan’ and cost nearly £1m of Council Tax money to produce. The forward states: ‘Our Local Plan sets out the long-term vision for Worthing’s development so we can deliver our ambitions for Worthing to be a vibrant place to live and work.’
Section 1.44 states:
To help meet the town’s potential it is essential that the Local Plan helps to unlock key development sites, particularly those in and around the town centre and seafront that provide the greatest potential to deliver social and economic benefits. Some of these sites have been vacant or in poor condition for a number of years and their sustainable redevelopment provides a unique opportunity to improve the town’s identity, enhance the public realm, add vibrancy and improve connectivity. The redevelopment of some of these sites also provides an opportunity to capitalise on the seafront setting and maintain and improve community facilities and the borough’s retail, tourism and leisure offer in order to better compete with other towns across the wider area. Elsewhere, a challenge will be to provide new premises to meet identified employment needs and support local business.
In January 2023 we purchased part of Goring Gap, which was derelict and unused and had been so since building work stopped after the outbreak of war in 1939. The land was put up for sale on the open market in 2022. The phrase ‘open market’ means anyone could buy it, including WBC and other residents. We paid the full asking price and purchased it though our pension funds. Part of the legal requirements for land purchased through a pension fund is it cannot be used for residential development. It has to be used commercially.
Our land was densely overgrown and full of rubbish. To put this in perspective, after we cleared the entrance of brambles, overgrowth and rubbish Worthing Borough Council Planning Department accused us of removing earth to make an entrance and install gates. The legal entrance (on Land Registry) and gates were in fact already there but had been obscured by years of overgrown, debris and rubbish.
Our land is not in conservation area or indeed a residential area. It is opposite a green space owned by WBC where 1000’s of people bring their own alcohol and eat food each year – Greensward. WBC have even constructed BBQ stations for the public to use. Next to us (approx. 1/2 a mile away) is the Sea Lane café that has an alcohol licence, which has recently been approved for greater alcohol sales and longer licencing hours, and this too is owned by WBC. WBC issue licences (at significant cost to street traders) in the roads around us. There are also street traders who are able to sell alcohol on the streets and promenade – Worthing Gin for example.
In January 2024 we applied for a new premises licence to be able to sell alcohol on Goring Gap. It was initially agreed by Worthing Borough Council Licencing department and Sussex Police, but due to the number of objections a public hearing was called before a sub-committee panel meeting, made up of Worthing Councillors, at Worthing Borough Council on 28 March 2024. Sir Peter Bottomley and Sophie Cox gave evidence against our application. Our application for a licence was refused.
We appealed the decision within 21 days of the original refusal and requested the hearing be held outside Worthing. The appeal was accepted and the preliminary hearing was heard on 17th of October in Crawley. Grounds for as fresh hearing were accepted and a full hearing was set for 20 March 2025 at Horsham Magistrates Court.
Worthing hired a top barrister, who was an expert in licencing matters, to represent them and we represented ourselves. Our appeal was successful and our new premises licence will be granted.
We look forward to working with the licencing team at Worthing Borough Council, who have been professional, supportive and helpful throughout this process and are a credit to our great town.
