Shoreham port's redevelopment blueprint drawn up (From The Argus)

Shoreham port's redevelopment blueprint drawn up

6:50pm Friday 4th January 2013 in News By Tim Ridgway, Local government reporter

Shoreham port's redevelopment blueprint drawn up

REDEVELOPMENT plans to transform the area around one of the county’s biggest ports are to move a step closer.

Shoreham Port, which stretches from West Hove to the mouth of the River Adur, is seen by leaders across Sussex as a key place to build much-needed homes and office space.

As part of wider redevelopment of the area, Brighton and Hove City Council is to draw up a blueprint which will guide developers in producing firmer proposals.

Guide investment Locals have cautiously welcomed the news, adding they hope any plans will be realistic and not harmful to the current area.

The planning brief ’s aim, which covers the Aldrington Basin, off Kingsway, and the South Portslade industrial area, is to guide investment and interest from developers.

On the council’s wish-list are 400 homes and the creation of about 10,000sqm of employment space.

The council also wants to see Aldrington Basin, which starts at Hove Lagoon, become a “gateway” to the port and improve the A259 coastal road, cycle routes and connections with Hove seafront and the lagoon.

However, the local authority said the brief was “not prescriptive”.

These targets could alter as the City Plan, which will guide development in Brighton and Hove until 2030, will not be drawn up by councillors until the end of this month.

Ward councillor Garry Peltzer Dunn said: “It’s essential that whatever is proposed has to be realistic and has to have a realistic chance of success.”

Mike Sharman, chairman of Kingsway and West Hove Residents’ Association, said it was aware of the brief and had submitted a response.

Within this, the group, which was set up to oppose the Portzed ecodevelopment three years ago, said it was keen to ensure the character of its area is respected, adding it was currently undervalued.

Approval for the planning brief is expected to be granted by the council’s economic development and cul- ture committee next week.

This will spark six weeks of public consultation before the brief is finalised.

The Shoreham Harbour Regeneration Partnership includes Adur District Council, the city council, West Sussex County Council and Shoreham Port Authority.

Adur District Council is to create a separate planning brief for the Western Harbour Arm.

This has been identified as the other key area for growth in the area.