Boost boost at Asda site in Bognor

Hundreds of jobs could be created in a major economic boost for the Bognor Regis area.

Talks are under way about the development of a crucial employment site for the area.

The discussions concern turning the location, Oldlands Farm in North Bersted, into a gateway location to increase wage and skill levels in the area.

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Landowner Langmead Farms is talking to an unidentified firm about the potential of the site of up to 22.5 hectares. The discussions are expected to be concluded by the autumn.

Bognor Regis Chamber of Commerce chairman and president Nick Stuart-Nicolson welcomed the prospect of a big influx of jobs.

He said: "A large amount of extra employment can only be good for Bognor. The town needs more jobs and I hope those which are created on Oldlands Farm offer the chance of high-quality work for a lot of people."

Oldlands Farm has been seen as having the potential for commercial use since Arun District Council outlined its current land blueprint in August 1999.

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The creation of high-quality employment '“ initially on 11.2 hectares '“ was intended to balance the influx of 1,350 new households on Site Six at North Bersted and Felpham.

But, while work on those homes has finally started, Oldlands Farm has remained untouched.

Only one potential occupier has come forward. Asda unleashed a wave of public support in October 2007 with its plans for a superstore with 500 jobs and the first phase of work on an adjoining business park with another 1,000 jobs.

But Arun's councillors controversially rejected the proposal 14 months later.

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They said the site had to be used for higher-paid jobs as well as fearing the store's impact on town-centre shops.

News of the latest potential jobs benefit from Oldlands Farm was revealed by Arun's chief executive, Ian Sumnall.

He told Monday's cabinet meeting of senior councillors the talks about developing Oldlands Farm were a significant positive sign.

They followed initial discussions between the district council and the landowner.

"Those discussions are becoming more involved," he said.

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"A third party has now entered the discussions that may well be productive.

"I can't possibly say who the third party is but we are going to be part of those discussions to see if they can progress."

He put a timescale of two to three months for the talks to be finished.

He pointed out the start of work on the Bognor Regis northern relief road, whose eastern section will start on the A29 close to Oldlands Farm, had made the site more attractive to developers.

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Council leader Gillian Brown said: "It's absolutely crucial this site does come forward.

"We can't just have housing and no employment. We can't let this go. We have to do everything we can."

Norman Dingemans, who is in charge of Arun's economic policies, said: "This is a key site which is becoming more and more important as the A259 relief road is built. Once it is built, it opens up the site dramatically.

"Anything we can do to take it forward and get people interested and make it available for industry and offices is a very sensible move forward for the regeneration of Bognor."

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The cabinet's members agreed to hire consultants at a cost of up to 25,000 from a government grant to look at assessing the employment potential of Oldlands Farm.

But they said no action should be taken until the outcome of the talks between Langmead Farms and the developer was known.