Indoor market site sold for development

The market, once a popular shopping destination for many people in the area, has lain unused for around five years.

Now, Chichester-based social housing company Martlet Homes has signed a deal to develop the 35,000 square-metre site into a combination of shops and housing, some of which will be affordable, some shared ownership and some to be sold.

The news has been greeted with guarded enthusiasm by Littlehampton traders as the deal is the fifth in as many years struck on the site but so far not a single brick has been laid.

John Stevens, chairman of the Littlehampton Traders' Partnership, said: "We would very much welcome the regeneration of the site. It's been near-derelict for a long time.

"However, the premises has been through a number of ownerships over the years and there's been a number of planning applications and finding someone brave enough to actually develop it is another thing.

"Retail has been in the doldrums during 2005 and Littlehampton has been quite badly hit because of the situation where Somerfield re-located. So if the development can redress the balance to some extent, that would be very good.

"It's a guarded welcome though as without seeing the final detailed plans, it's difficult to make comment."

The market site was the former headquarters of Hare's Garage in the town and incorporates the former Cole and Hobden furniture store in Terminus Road, which has the large 'One World' mural painted on it.

Mark Coates, head of development at Martlet Homes, said: "We want to build an attractive scheme that will regenerate that part of the town. It's been derelict and a bit of an eyesore for a long time now.

"I know there's a lot of history with the site and a number of interested parties and we want to try and try to come up with the best scheme we can."

Martlet Homes has met with Arun District Council's planning department and Littlehampton Town Council to discuss the plans for the site.

Work there is not expected to start before the autumn as final plans have yet to be lodged with Arun.

The 8m investment into the site includes a 1m grant from the government's Housing Corporation.

Martlet Homes is a registered social landlord based in Chichester. The not-for-profit company is recognised by the Housing Corporation and the National Housing Federation.

The market site has been flagged up as an important area for regeneration in the Littlehampton Vision document, a blueprint to help guide future development in the town up to the year 2020.

The Vision document is being led by the Littlehampton Town Centre Action Group in partnership with Arun District Council, West Sussex County Council, Littlehampton Town Council and the South East England Development Agency.