PLANNERS are being urged to come forward with proposals for a new commercial or leisure development for a waterfront site.

The plea was made by Shoreham Port chief executive Rodney Lunn at their annual general meeting in Southwick last night.

Port bosses unveiled plans for the site at the south side of the A259 opposite Southwick train station last month.

Mr Lunn has ruled out building flats or housing on the land and instead said they would be looking for potential leisure of commercial developments.

He said: “It is still early days but the purpose of mentioning the development was to drum up interest for the site. We are trying to attract attention to what is a great site with huge potential.

“If we are talking about leisure facilities it could be an extension of the marina, so shops and cafes, and, if commercial, then it could be office space.”

Bosses also announced the port had recorded 14% growth last year.

Mr Lunn told those at The Barn Theatre meeting the port had seen an increase in revenue over the last five years from £8.14million a year to £12.5million.

He said: “We have seen a huge increase in the amount of wood, steel and aggregate into the port. The reason for growth is down to the change in the economy and boost in the construction trade across the south east and London.

“As a result we have taken on five new members of staff and now across the footprint of the port we have 1,600 people employed - that is all the people employed across all the companies that we rent out space to.”

He added: “We have also invested in the port and the facilities with a new crane and a new quay area which obviously makes us more attractive to those looking to come here, so it is good news all round.”

The port is one of the biggest on the south coast with the latest annual report detailing that 1.6 million tonnes had passed through.

The cargo came from 749 commercial vessels.

Meanwhile 799 fishing vessels used the port and 10,744 leisure vessels.

For more details about the Southwick development and to register your interest visit shoreham-port.co.uk.