First steps toregeneration

The technical experts have been studying the layout and ground conditions around the town centre ready for the Hothamton and Regis Centre regenerations schemes.

Building firm St Modwen Properties sent in the preliminary team of surveyors in the past week to prepare the way for more detailed analysis when its plans near completion.

The individuals formed the advance party of what will be an army of workmen when the scheme to bring 100m of redevelopment to Bognor gets fully underway.

St Modwen's initial concept was for a leisure-based project on the Regis Centre/Hotham Arts Centre with such attractions as a multiplex cinema, bingo and ten-pin bowling.

The cinema is set to be included in the final scheme but bingo seems destined to be axed. It is not seen to add anything new to Bognor to tempt people into the town centre and boost its leisure profile.

Its 2,050sq m of space '“ slightly smaller than the bowling alley and a third smaller than the multiplex '“ will be devoted to another crowd-pulling attraction.

The complex will be joined by restaurants and a 70-bedroom hotel to provide an attractive package of leisure businesses, with flats above, in a seafront setting. A second feasibility study is being carried out into the prospect of a multi-purpose entertainment area being included in the complex as well to replace the Hotham Arts Centre. The centre's future is, as always, subject to controversy.

The location has been described by Arun District Council as the jewel in the crown of Bognor.

Arun, as the landlord and the planning authority, has two roles in which to ensure that St Modwen builds a fitting development.

Bognor regeneration task force head Richard McMann said: 'St Modwen sent in their surveying team to do the preliminary work on the sites. It is not a detailed survey, though they did send down an ecological surveyor to see what conditions were like.'

The company wanted to know the general layout of the area before it began detailed work on the buildings which it will submit for planning permission.

'It shows St Modwen's commitment to this scheme that they are prepared to send down these surveyors,' said Mr McMann. 'They are not standing still on it.

'The timetable is that the council and the company want to sign a development agreement for the work by July. This will then give St Modwen's a further year in which to submit the planning application.

'What is important at this stage is the commitment to provide leisure space. What goes in that space is flexible and there will be new operators coming forward saying they would like to be part of the scheme.'

The regeneration also extends to the Hothamton car park site on Queensway. This is earmarked for office and retail uses with potential for a new library and health centre as well. Parking for both sites would be underground to make up for the loss of 405 ground level spaces.

Public exhibitions will be held about the detailed proposals once they have been finalised by St Modwen. The planning applications will also provide the chance for comments. If approved, work should start on the Hothamton site in about 18 months.

But Arun District Council officer Mr McMann said the work he and his two existing colleagues '“ planning officer Steven Cantwell and regeneration expert Paula Welland '“ extended to more than the town centre regeneration.

The site six housing development, northern relief road and the commercial allocation of up to 22 hectares were also important matters for Bognor's future along with the potential 100m rebuild of Butlins by Bourne Leisure and the 35m rebuild of Bognor Regis Community Centre.

The commitment of Morrisons to central Bognor and the University of Chichester's determination to make better use of its town campus were other plus-points for the town's future.

A '˜value-added' checklist for a potential marina '“ to determine what it would provide to the town '“ would also be compiled by this summer, he stated.

He urged Bognor's companies to get ready for the combination of a series of schemes which added up to a potential 500m being invested by 2012.

'These are exciting times for Bognor and they feature an unprecedented combination of chances to revitalise the town. We expect all this investment to attract even more investors to come forward and want to know how they can join in the town's regeneration,' he urged.

'There's a challenge for Bognor's businesses at the moment.

'They should look at where they are now and where they want to be in five years' time in the light of 500m of investment at least going on around them.

'Some of the businesses will find it frightening. Others will see it as a terrific opportunity. They should say '˜How do I see my business operating with all that investment and to get some benefit from it'.'

Mr McMann said he and his team '“ a fourth member is set to start '“ were always willing to meet people in their offices at Bognor Regis Town Hall.

Some half a dozen people had taken the chance to talk to them since they moved into the building last month.