Arun to decide on Asda plans by April

The Observer can reveal that Arun District Council will determine the far-reaching proposals on April 9.

That day's development control committee meeting will consider the retailing giant's attempt to open the largest store serving Bognor.

Asda only formally submitted the plans last week. The application consisted of more than 900 pages which measured 25cms when piled up.

The immense detail covered issues such as the proposed store's impact on the environment, retailing around the town and roads.

Asda wants to put the 75,000-80,000sq ft outlet '“ about the size of a football pitch '“ on Oldlands Farm.

This is immediately north of the John Wiley premises alongside the A29 Shripney Road.

Asda wants to pump 30m into the farmland to create 1,500 jobs. As well as the store, with its 500 employees, the company is also promising to help create a neighbouring business park.

This has been a long-held goal of Arun but has failed to take shape so far. Asda will pay 4.5m to install all the services to enable the site to be occupied. It will also build the first 10,000sq ft building ready for occupation as a way of kick starting the scheme which could eventually offer 1,000 jobs.