Final plans to breathe new life into a busy shopping area have been revealed.

Work worth almost £3 million will begin this autumn to transform Montague Place in Worthing into a “vibrant green space”.

The new space, to be called Montague Gardens, has been designed to appeal to residents and visitors of all ages and is inspired by the gardens that existed when Montague Place was first built in the early 19th century. The emphasis is on increasing biodiversity with a green space linking the seafront to Liverpool Gardens in the north.

A social space will be created at the north end of the gardens, with residents and visitors welcomed by a stand-out Worthing place sign, a green living wall and a performance area.

Plans for the site also include the replacement of tarmac with accessible paving, 30 new trees, drought-resistant planting, a lawn area and sociable seating areas for residents to connect with each other and with nature.

There will be dedicated spaces for businesses to have outdoor seating and a new hospitality kiosk will be built for vendors to serve coffee or ice-cream from.

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Younger children will benefit from a new play area that celebrates Worthing’s seaside heritage and highlights kelp restoration in the area. There will be information boards on the work to restore natural kelp forests as well as tactile fixed play equipment that lets children climb freely and use their imagination.

To help create a seamless route to the sea, the council also plans to move the Marine Parade road crossing from its current position outside the Marks & Spencer building to the southern end of Montague Gardens and create a new ramp to the promenade, subject to approval from West Sussex County Council. 

Work on the new green space, which is subject to full agreement and further engagement with partners, will be completed in phases over a 15-18 month period.

The works will be funded by the council’s Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Strategic Fund, which is made up of payments made by developers building in the local area, and form part of the public realm regeneration programme within the current Worthing Growth Deal - a partnership between Adur and Worthing Councils and West Sussex County Council.

Plans were developed with the help of residents and businesses who took part in a series of online and in-person consultations.

Councillor Caroline Baxter, Worthing’s cabinet member for regeneration, said: “Montague Gardens will breathe new life into the town centre, boost our local economy, attract visitors and provide residents of all ages with a welcoming space to socialise, have fun and enjoy our beautiful town by the sea.

“It was extremely important for us to involve the community in the design of this new green space and we’re grateful to everyone that took time to take part in our consultations to ensure that the gardens will be accessible to all.”