Future of retail in the town

The container holds one copy of Asda's outline planning application to open in Bognor at a cost of 30m.

It was handed in to Arun District Council by the company as its formal bid to develop the Oldlands Farm site.

The company wants to build a 75,000 to 80,000sq ft store at the location, next to the A29 Shripney Road opposite the Rowan Way junction.

It intends to combine the outlet with the 4.5m installation of all the services necessary to enable a business park to be created next door as well as providing the first 10,000sq ft business unit ready to be occupied. Some 1,500 jobs could be created at the business park.

Without the investment, Asda claims that the long-held dream of developing the location for jobs would cost too much to be worthwhile.

The last time Bognor's retailing world was faced with such a major change was the opening of the Tesco store on Shripney Road in August 1988. Previously, the London Road precinct was created around 1983.

Asda's plans were revealed last October. A two-day exhibition soon after revealed overwhelming support for the scheme. But Monday's submission of the planning application was the first official move by Asda in its bid for a Bognor presence.

The company produced 12 sets of the application to ensure Arun had enough information on which to consider the plans.

The facts in each set include a full planning and retail statement, an environment statement, a transport statement, a statement of community involvement and drawings.

This is the most detail Asda has provided in any outline application for its 340 branches.

Asda development surveyor Barney Harle said he was sure the effort had been worthwhile.

"We are confident we have prepared as comprehensive an application as can be done.

"We believe this development is what Bognor needs to kickstart the application site next to the northern relief road.

"We trust Arun will similarly view the value of the proposals," he stated.

He said the company did not believe that Asda's presence 1.5 miles north of the town centre would damage the central retail area.

This was based on the studies which showed about half Bognor area residents never went near the town centre.

By providing an Asda on the town's outskirts, it was hoped some of them could be enticed to spend money locally rather than in Chichester, Littlehampton or Worthing.

"People who visit the town centre already will view Asda as an added attraction rather than doing some of their shopping somewhere else," he added.

Arun's land use policy has long earmarked Oldlands Farm for industrial purposes rather than retail.

The council has 16 weeks in which to consider Asda's plans which establish the principle of development on the land.

If the decision is yes, Asda will begin to compile detailed plans which will show how the store will look and what materials will be used. This will be finished by the end of this year. The earliest date for the store to open will be mid-2010.

If the council rejects the scheme, Asda has the option of appealing to the Planning Inspectorate.