item 16 - lower beach road car park enhancement project

Joint Strategic Committee Agenda item: 16 29 November 2012

Joint Strategic Committee 29 November 2012

Agenda Item 16

Ward: Shoreham Beach

Lower Beach Road Car Park Enhancement Project Report by the Executive Head of Planning, Regeneration and Wellbeing 1.0 Summary 1.1 This report highlights an opportunity to enhance the layout of the Lower Beach

Road car park and provide a cyclepath link to Ferry Road and the beach beyond. This work, which could be linked to the completion of the new footbridge, would meet one of the key aspirations of Shoreham Renaissance. The report, therefore, recommends that the Committee agrees to the release of up to £250,000 from the sale of Surry Arms Public House to implement the enhancement scheme for the car park.

2.0 Background 2.1 The Shoreham Renaissance Strategy identifies a number of key public realm

enhancement opportunities. The Strategy sets out the overall aims for public realm enhancements including improving visual and physical access to the waterfront. An important aspect of the overall Strategy was to create an improved link between the Town Centre and the Beach. As Members are aware, various sections of this link have been implemented (East Street) or are being constructed (the replacement footbridge). Funding has also been secured, including a contribution from the Shoreham Harbour Project, to undertake enhancement works to Ferry Road.

2.2 Planning permission was granted last year for the replacement footbridge linking the

town centre with Shoreham Beach. Work has recently started on site and there is an opportunity to link improvements to Lower Beach Road car park with the completion of the bridge project. An agreement was reached with West Sussex County Council (WSCC) to enable the appointed bridge contractors to store equipment and materials on the car park on the basis that the car park was returned to its former condition. The provision of the access ramp and the flood defence wall would also require remedial works to the car park. At the time of the planning application it was not clear how any cyclepath from the bridge would link to the coastal cycle route and how this may have impacted on the layout of the car park.

2.3 The Shoreham Slipways Group also submitted an application last year to build a

new public slipway adjacent to the existing causeway/slipway. The application was approved, in principle, subject to the submission of satisfactory information regarding the impact of the development on the ecology of the mudflats and appropriate mitigation measures. In addition the EA has stated that a separate consent licence would be required and this would need to include hydraulic modelling to be undertaken so that it can be satisfied that the slipway would not


impact on the new tidal wall defences. The Council has a long lease on the car park from Shoreham Port Authority (SPA).

3.0 Proposals 3.1 The approved footbridge currently under construction would be implemented at the

same time as the tidal defences along the section of Lower Beach Road car park fronting the river. Given the height of the new tidal defences the ‘landing point’ of the bridge would have required steps and a ramp to take pedestrians and cyclists down to grade level and the difference in height between the car park and the top of the new tidal defence would have created a rather stark appearance. As the contractors are required to return the car park to its former appearance there is an opportunity, if additional funding could be provided, to enhance the ‘landing point’ of the bridge and provide a more attractive and accessible pedestrian/cyclist link to Ferry Road, the Beach and the Coastal cyclepath. As stated previously this would be in line with the original aspirations of the Shoreham Renaissance Public Realm Strategy.

3.2 To consider the options available for enhancing Lower Beach Road car park

Consultants BDP were appointed. BDP had already prepared the enhancement scheme for Ferry Road and therefore knew the site and many of the issues involved. The scheme prepared has sought to retain the same number of car parking spaces but provide an enhanced ‘landing point’ from the bridge with a landscaped amenity space overlooking the River and a gentle ramped access leading from the Bridge towards Ferry Road running diagonally through the car park. Attached as Appendix I is the indicative scheme prepared by BDP.

3.3 The scheme would require a new road leading into the car park at the western end

of the site and the ‘stopping up’ of the existing highway. The scheme has also been designed so that it could be easily modified to accommodate the proposed slipway (if this is progressed at a later stage). The existing access rights for houses on Lower Beech Road and the houseboats by the public house would also need to be retained/modified.

3.4 The Consultants overall cost for the project is circa £450k and this is considered to

be a slight over estimate. However, of this approximately £200k was included in the overall costs for the bridge to cover the re-surfacing works to the car park to return it to its former condition after the completion of the bridge and WSCC intend to contribute this £200k towards the Council’s scheme. On the basis that this is available for the enhancement scheme a further £250k is required to enable the project to proceed.

3.5 The scheme has the support of the SPA and there have been ongoing discussions

with West Sussex County Council in relation to the ‘Stopping Up’ and Traffic Regulation Order required to implement the scheme. One complication with the proposal would be addressing various restrictive covenants on the land and existing access arrangements. The SPA has been supportive of the scheme and has been very open to suggestions about how best to deal with retaining access to existing properties along the river. One option would be for the Council to purchase the freehold ownership and this would be a very attractive solution for a variety of reasons. The SPA would be prepared to sell the freehold and this would simplify the process for dealing with existing covenants and creating new rights of way to


existing properties. It is anticipated that the cost of purchasing the freehold for the car park would not exceed £10,000 and this could be covered by the overall scheme costs as the overall costs estimate by BDP Consultants are considered to be an over estimate.

3.6 The scheme prepared by BDP has now been the subject of two public consultation

events in October and the majority of responses have been positive towards the scheme. A breakdown of the responses and comments received is attached as Appendix II.

4.0 Legal 4.1 Section 1 of The Localism Act 2011 confers upon a Local Authority a general power

of competence to do anything that individuals generally may do and in particular the power to do it for the benefit of the authority its area or persons resident or present in its area.

5.0 Financial implications 5.1 As set out in the report the overall costs of the project are approximately £450k,

however, £200k of this cost has already been included in the WSCC footbridge budget. It is proposed the remaining £250k is funded from the Council’s ring fenced capital receipts.

5.2 The sale of the Surry Arms Public House generated £987k and this sale receipt was

ring-fenced for regeneration projects. 5.3 The release of the capital resources will have a minor financial implication for the

Council as the investment income will be lost of the money spent which is approximately £3,000.

6.0 Recommendation

6.1 The Committee is recommended to:

i) recommend to Council release up to £250k towards the cost of the

enhancement scheme for Lower Beach Road car park:

ii) recommend to Council to include this scheme in the 2013/14 Adur Capital Investment Programme;

iii) delegate authority to Officers to continue negotiations with Shoreham Port

Authority to address covenant and access issues and if necessary proceed to purchase the freehold to facilitate the development, and;

iv) agree to Officers starting detailed design work immediately to ensure the

delivery of the project to coincide with the completion of the footbridge.


Local Government Act 1972 Background Papers: Shoreham Renaissance Strategy Planning Applications for the new Footbridge and Public Slipway. Plans and Report prepared by BDP on the design of the enhancement scheme and public consultation responses. Contact Officer: James Appleton Executive Head of Planning, Regeneration and Wellbeing Portland House, Richmond Road, Worthing Telephone number 01903 221333 E-Mail address [email protected]


Schedule of Other Matters 1.0 Council Priority 1.1 (i) Promoting a clean, green sustainable environment. (ii) Supporting and improving the local economy. 2.0 Specific Action Plans 2.1 (i) Implementing a key objective of Shoreham Renaissance Public Realm

Strategy. (ii) Supporting regeneration projects to enhance the streetscene and improve

sustainability. 3.0 Sustainability Issues 3.1 The proposed enhancement scheme would help to improve cycle and pedestrian

routes and encourage more sustainable modes of transport. 4.0 Equality Issues 4.1 The design of the scheme has taken into account the accessibility needs of all

users. 5.0 Community Safety Issues (Section 17) 5.1 The creation of enhanced areas of open space would increase public accessibility

and help reduce the incidence of crime in the area. 6.0 Human Rights Issues 6.1 The development would not impinge on anyone’s human rights. The scheme would

ensure that existing access rights to properties are retained. 7.0 Reputation 7.1 The enhancement scheme would enhance the Council’s reputation. 8.0 Consultations 8.1 (A) Two public consultation exercises undertaken in October 2012. (B) The next stage in the design process will seek to have regard to all comments

received during the consultation process. 9.0 Risk Assessment 9.1 Matter considered and no issues identified.


10.0 Health & Safety Issues 10.1 Matter considered and no issues identified. 11.0 Procurement Strategy 11.1 The procurement of this project will follow Council’s adopted procedures. 12.0 Partnership Working 12.1 The implementation of this scheme requires partnership working with WSCC and

the Port Authority.


APPENDIX 1


APPENDIX II

item 16 - lower beach road car park enhancement project

Documents