Lec site: More jobs get Arun's backing

Arun District Council's cabinet backed the land use guidelines for the derelict section of the former Lec fridge and freezer factory.

They supported the principles of the development to provide employment on land which was once the workplace for a 1,000-plus employees.

The owner of the 4.30-hectare site alongside the A29, Sime Darby London Ltd, envisages the core uses of the plot as being retail '“ both supermarket and bulky goods '“ and business for light industry, research and development and offices.

Other uses such as a business hotel, storage and distribution and a car showroom are also favoured.

Some housing '“ up to 50 per cent of the site '“ is suggested as well as a means of encouraging development.

But the cabinet members made it clear they wanted jobs to be created on all the site to provide local work for residents.

Cllr Roger Elkins, Arun's deputy leader, said: "This is a particularly important site when you come into Bognor.

"At this stage, we can't prejudge what schemes might come before us.

"But I certainly hope anybody looking at this site will take note of its location.

"This is a key entrance to the regeneration of Bognor. Anybody developing this site has got a great opportunity to put in a landmark building that will set the scene for a regenerated Bognor.

"I hope that opportunity is taken up."

Cllr Norman Dingemans, the chairman of the council's Bognor sub-committee, said: "I commend Sime Darby for the way they have gone about the process of bringing this site forward."

The company's consultation, openness and desire to produce a scheme to benefit as many people as possible boded well for the future plans.

Cllr Gill Brown, Arun's leader, said: "Sime Darby have given an example of how consultation should be carried out. I don't think there is anybody who has not had the opportunity to comment at some stage of the process."

The consultation clearly showed, as the Observer has reported, that Bognor residents and councillors want jobs on the site.

It has been empty for almost four years since production moved to new premises to the north, now sold and occupied by two employers.

Some of the empty former factory buildings, one measuring 230m long and 80m wide, date back to 1948.

Office buildings which flank the A29 were built in the early 1950s.

It will be up to a developer, which buys the land from Sime Darby, to demolish the buildings and submit a planning application for new structures and uses.

This will be through the normal planning application process in which approval for the proposals will be unaffected by the cabinet's decision.

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