Littlehampton's biggest development site up for sale

CBRE, the world’s biggest commercial real estate business, has been appointed by food company Greencore Group to sell the 210-acre site for the North Littlehampton housing and business development.

The land has outline planning permission for more than 1,200 new homes, 20 per cent of which will be affordable housing, together with more than 13,000 sq ft of retail, commercial, community and leisure uses.

Would-be developers would also have to make a major contribution to the cost of building the Lyminster bypass, providing a new link from the town, through the site and northwards towards the A27 at Crossbush.

The site, stretching from the railway line east of The Body Shop headquarters, to almost as far as Lyminster Road in the east, is being marketed as Hampton Park and is currently occupied by almost 500,000 sq m of glasshouses and other commercial premises.

CBRE senior director for development, Mark Budden said: “This is an important opportunity to create an attractive, sustainable new community in a green setting on the south coast, located close to the A27 strategic route.

“The area is currently attracting a lot of inward investment and this scheme will be an important part of the infrastructure upgrade, delivering a significant community dividend.

“We anticipate keen interest in this excellent location which affords a rare opportunity to create a high quality urban extension with its own unique identity.”

Mr Budden said he could not give a price for the site, as detailed negotiations would have to take place with any prospective developer over many months, due to the complexity of the scheme.

The Lyminster bypass was likely to be a key feature of any negotiations, but he was optimistic that the road link would be built, possibly in the third quarter of 2016, and talks were continuing with West Sussex County Council over the timescale.

“The commercial development land, for a hotel, leisure uses, retail and other employment uses will benefit greatly from a Lyminster bypass.

“We are making it a priority. It will make a complete difference to the perception of both developers and future occupiers of the benefits of being based to the north of Littlehampton.

“The quality of that location would be upgraded by ease of access to the A27.”

While housing would form the major part of the scheme, the commercial aspect was important, too, he said.

A masterplan drawn up by Arun, county and town councillors, with input from Greencore, proposes a range of types of commercial development which could support almost 1,000 jobs and help to meet the demand for smaller premises.

The construction phase would generate around 300 full-time equivalent jobs and with many of the processes utilising innovative green technologies, providing an opportunity for a construction skills training programme for local residents.