Worthing Residents Protest Over Flats Plan

Around 30 residents gathered at the former Worthing Gas Works site on Wednesday (September 1) to show their objection to plans for up to 209 flats.

St William Homes wants to build five blocks of flats at the empty site behind Waitrose supermarket which is currently used as overspill parking for Worthing Hospital.

The last gas holder was decommissioned in 2009 and demolished a decade later in 2019. The site was then identified as having potential for development in the Worthing Local Plan.

But residents have voiced concerns over several aspects of the development including the height of the buildings and the effect it could have on traffic, residents and local services.

Anne Tompkins, who lives at the Kings Hall retirement flats on Park Road, said:

“I live in the retirement flats and we are all very worried about a loss of light and privacy.

“Mental health is extremely important when you are older and this will impact all of us – They need to understand that this will plunge many flats into darkness.”

The tallest building would be seven storeys but a report commissioned by the developer says that the amount of daylight reaching existing properties would remain ‘very high’.

Another resident, Graham Barnham, said:

“The high rise is not in keeping with the area: there are small cottages and houses all round the site. The traffic will rise, parking will be even worse and where will the hospital staff park?”

Val Vizar recently moved to Park Road, which runs along the east of the site, and said:

“There’s been very little consultation about this development and I’m really concerned about the size of the buildings!”

This view was shared by Lyne Cheshire who claims that the consultation was ‘inadequate’.

She said:

“This is a massive development which will impact all of us.”

St William Homes says the pandemic prevented an in-person consultation, but added that it has ‘worked closely’ with council officers, councillors, the Worthing Society and local residents.

After three rounds of consultation, the developer made several key changes to its designs including a reduction to the height of the block to the north east of the site and also the tallest building. After listening to residents’ concerns, St William Homes also increased the size of the proposed central square.

Another concern voiced by residents is contamination and the presence of hydrocarbons at the site. This can sometimes occur at former industrial sites such as those used for gas works and by the agricultural and metalworking industries.

Resident Liz Churcher said:

“I’m concerned that they are going to have to drill very deep and the ground could be toxic. What about our health? Do they really know that the ground is safe?”

Graham Barnham added:

“I’m concerned about what might be released when they start work.”

Retired couple Lyn Patricia and Terry Barlow live on Lyndhurst Road and say they have considered selling their house in light of the proposed development.

Lyn, who has chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), said:

“I’m coming up to 70 and we had to get rid of our car because of parking issues.

“I’m not a well person and this has really impacted on my mental health but it’s just too much for us to move.

“The surgeries are full and are jam packed so the infrastructure is not up to it.

“Normal houses would be fine and everybody needs a place to live but not in a high rise.”

Terry, who is 83, said:

“The biggest worry to me is the contamination.”

St William Homes says it carried out an initial investigation in September 2020 which identified ‘limited areas of contamination’ or ‘hot spots’ at the site.

The developer says this contamination will be addressed in line with relevant legislation and added that a part of the site had already been ‘remediated’ to remove contamination before Waitrose was built.

During the public consultation stage, the developer said:

“Remediation and construction activities have the potential to release contaminants, making suitable controls and monitoring an essential part of the process.

“Monitoring starts before construction begins and continues throughout the development to ensure the implemented mitigation measures are effective, and to assess whether any further mitigation measures are required.

“First and foremost is the health of the community and our workforce.”

According to the developer, the height of buildings ‘does not create a greater contamination risk’.

More information about the proposal can be found at the Worthing planning portal using reference: AWDM/1459/21.