A nine-storey “eyesore” will be the subject of a multi-million pound development after escaping the clutches of a demolition team.

The former Lloyds TSB building in The Causeway in Field Place, Worthing, will be converted into 44 affordable flats.

Planning permission for a further 40 homes on a neighbouring two-storey site is already being sought and is likely to go on the market at the start of the summer.

The tower, which has been vacant for four years, had been set for demolition to make way for a redevelopment consisting of 154 apartments, 22,000 square feet of shopping space and a 300 space car park.


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But property sales team Michael Jones agreed to let the existing building to London-based URB Group.

Work has already started on transforming the Lloyds tower and apartments will go on the market next year for first and second time buyers.

Managing director Michael Jones said: “They are going to be converting it into apartments to sell and they should be coming on to the market next year.

“It’s very exciting, they are going to create some amazing apartments.

“They have done some great conversions in South London and now they are bringing that down here.

“The site is going to be converted rather than demolished.

“We had the site on the market and there was some interest in it but it was a bit complicated and so we sat down with our clients and they were very receptive to the idea of converting the site.

“We put it back on the market for conversion and it went within a couple of days.”

Tim Vaid, owner of the nearby The Strand Bakery, said: “I am amazed that it has been sold after all this time.

“It’s a horrendous concrete building, it’s been an eyesore standing idle for a long time.

“I believe it was the cost of the demolition that was putting people off.

“But it’s good news if they are going to convert, it is a good thing for the area.”