1 Overview
The Adur and Worthing Growth Deal was signed in March 2017 as an ambitious 5-year partnership programme of regeneration focusing on key priorities across the area. The Growth deal between West Sussex County Council (WSCC), Adur District Council (ADC) and Worthing Borough Council (WBC) is currently undergoing a refresh in order to continue attracting investment and combining resource to deliver local economic growth. This will enable the development of new homes and creating employment opportunities and community facilities.
Find out more about the Adur and Worthing Growth Deal (PDF, 5.8MB)The overall aim of the growth programme is to sustain local economic growth and maximise prosperity, regenerating communities. Public authorities have worked together with organisations and agencies within the region, including Coast to Capital (C2C), Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) and Coastal West Sussex, to identify funding and investment opportunities.
The Growth Partnership directs specialist teams to design and deliver major projects that create new housing, employment space and community facilities, associated transport connections and environmental improvements to the quality of the public areas in town centres.
2 Worthing priorities
Worthing town centre
Worthing Public Realm Improvements (WPRI)
A Leader Decision (LDR01 2018-2019) in May 2018, approved a £5m capital allocation to develop a WPRI programme and delegated the Director of Place to take forward Portland Road and other key priority projects to be identified.
The £12 million WPRI programme is financed by match funding from partners, including WSCC Capital Programme, government agency grant funding such as the LEP, along with match funding from WBC using contributions from developers such as Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).
Portland Road
The Portland Road project works completed by Landbuild in the summer of 2022.
A key decision in May 2020 allocated Capital programme funds to support upgrades on Portland Road and delivery by WBC.
West Sussex County Council (WSCC) and Worthing Borough Council (WBC) worked in partnership to develop an attractive and accessibility scheme for the area, with new paving, adjusted parking and loading bays to extend the pedestrianised area around the cafes, shops and restaurants.
Montague Gardens project
In April 2021, members of WPRI Advisory Board supported the next phase of Montague Place regeneration to revitalise local businesses by extending the town square area, towards the seafront, to enable space for public events. In 2022 an initial improvements led to the closure of the road to vehicle traffic and engaged businesses and residents in a developing proposals for a new pedestrianised layout to make best use of the space.
In 2025, WSCC supported WBC proposed redesign of Montague Place, a £3.1m renovation project to create a community space, referred to a Montague Gardens, as it includes additional green spaces, events and seating areas, and children's play equipment. Work is anticipated to start later this year and planned to finish by the end of 2026. The enhanced space which connects Montague Street to Worthing seafront, is financed by WBC £2.7m Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funds, raised from developers building in the area, as well as £400,000 from pooled business rates (PBR) managed by WSCC to support Worthing growth priorities.
Railway Approach
Railway Approach (RA) is the second WPRI project to complete enhancing the Worthing station gateway and creating a sustainable transport interchange linking a new cycleway with a cycle hub.
3 Worthing Railway Approach
(Position in March 2025)
Background
On 14 April 2023, a Key Decision was approved endorsing the completed detailed design, approving a construction budget of £2.287m and endorsing the commencement of procurement. On 5 December 2023, another Key Decision was approved awarding the construction contract to Landbuild Ltd.
The Railway Approach works were delivered in synergy with the Active Travel funded Cross Street cycle improvements and construction ran from February to December 2024 with the exception of minor snagging - FAQs, updates and illustrations.
This scheme upgraded the front of Worthing Railway Station and Railway Approach. This included:
- accessibility enhancements
- greening with trees and planting
- the promotion of walking and cycling through improved pedestrian access
- new bicycle racks
- improved safety through better lighting and new CCTV
The Cross Street works provided a new contra-flow cycle lane linking Railway Approach to Cross Street serving cyclists travelling westbound. Additionally, the scheme implemented a raised crossing and raised table to prioritise pedestrian priority at the junction with Railway Approach.
See the detailed designs below.
- Eastern side of Railway Approach (PDF, 1.4MB)
- Western side of Railway Approach (PDF, 1.3MB) (incorporating adjacent Cross Street cycle contraflow scheme)
What the Railway Approach improvements have delivered
Worthing Railway Approach is an important point of arrival, key to making a positive first impression to those visiting the town. To enhance the experience for commuters and others who regularly use Worthing Railway Station, the area has been improved by new greening and access improvements.
This includes:
- widened footways around the railway station
- new footway surfaces
- new crossing facilities
- additional seating
- way-finding information
- improved green spaces using trees and planting
- working with the rail authorities to improve the rail buildings as part of the upgrade
- installation of a community art project
Community Art Project
West Sussex County Council also commissioned Artyface to work with the local community to create four mosaic roundels for the front of the Worthing Railway Station with support from local ceramics artist, Alice Mara.
The project actively involved residents in the creation process through workshops inviting people of all ages and abilities to contribute to the mosaic roundels, making the artwork a true reflection of the community. The mosaic roundels celebrate Worthing's rich history and vibrant seaside culture and they incorporate elements inspired by the town's heritage, Southern Railway's colours, and local landmarks, creating a meaningful connection between the artwork and the community.
You can read more in the latest press release.
Cross Street cycle contraflow
In synergy with the works on Railway Approach, walking and cycling infrastructure improvements were also undertaken on the Cross Street and Railway Approach junction.
While the Railway Approach scheme derives from the Worthing Growth Programme, the Cross Street improvements are funded by the Active Travel programme. To avoid additional disruption, and in order to streamline the two projects, these schemes were delivered together.
The scheme has provided a contra-flow cycle lane linking Railway Approach to Cross Street which will serve cyclists travelling westbound. Additionally, the scheme has implemented a raised crossing and raised table to prioritise pedestrian priority at the junction with Railway Approach.
Find details of the governance relating to the Cross Street scheme.
Traffic Regulation Orders
Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) are legal documents that enable West Sussex County Council, as the local highway authority, to manage the use of roads in the county.
Railway Approach and Victoria Road Amendment Order 2023 (WOR-8020-MM) - Traffic Regulation Order
To facilitate delivery of the Railway Approach scheme, there are changes to kerb-lines, general layout and parking on Railway Approach and Victoria Road. These improvements are part of the public realm enhancements through the TRO process. Full details of this notice can be viewed on our TRO web page.
Cross Street Amendment Order 2023 (WOR-8021-MM) - Traffic Regulation Order
The Cross Street works also required changes to parking, road layout and pedestrian crossings so therefore, also required a TRO. See our TRO web page for the Cross Street works.
Benefits
The improvements have created an attractive and functional area which links to its surroundings, in particular the pedestrian routes between the railway station and the town centre through the Teville Gate redevelopment site and Oxford Road.
The improvements have provided a clear and user-friendly transport interchange with accessible car and pick-up/drop off points, taxi rank and improved bus stops. New CCTV has been installed and an upgrade of the street lighting has also formed part of the scheme.
4 Adur priorities
Southwick Square
A Key Decision allocated £600,000 to complete the scheme design and construction of Southwick Square public realm improvements and delegated the delivery of the scheme to Adur District Council. Works commenced in Spring 2023 and successfully completed in Autumn 2023.
Lancing public realm improvements
Adur District Council are progressing proposals to enhance the area around the Lancing North Street junctions with Penstone Park and North Farm Road and create a pocket park zone to encourage dwell time and increase footfall.
Adur will be consulting the local community and listen to residents and businesses feedback on an early design that could potentially control access by motorised vehicles and stop traffic, so the area will be safer for pedestrians to enjoy the new pocket parks at those locations.
To find out more visit the Adur and Worthing Council web page.
Lancing and Shoreham, development at New Monks Farm and Shoreham Airport
WSCC worked together in partnership with Adur District Council, Highways England and development partners to secure investment to improve the A27 and a new junction, along with essential upgrades to the transport network and sustainable travel, as priorities in the Adur Local Plan.
The scheme has unlocked a major development site for the delivery of up to 623 new homes and 25,000 sqm of new employment floor space, served by the new junction. The first 250 homes are complete, with a further 384 homes progressing to schedule.
Shoreham harbour regeneration
WSCC, in partnership with ADC, Shoreham Port Authority, and Brighton & Hove City Council, secured significant investment for flood and tidal defences and adopted a Joint Area Action Plan (October 2019).
WSCC and ADC are working with developers on plans to deliver flood protection and sustainable transport measures to support the delivery of new business units and over 1,000 new homes around the Western Harbour arm.
Pond Road, Shoreham
A partnership study explored options for the site and concluded that it was financially unviable to combine public library and health care services into a new hub. The NHS are exploring options to improve their existing health centre.
The county council is looking at ways to enhance the library and to attain best value. It has marketed its vacant site to secure a residential developer who will deliver new homes suitable for adults with care and support needs to help meet local demand.