Revised £80m Bognor regeneration plans ready for submission

And the businessmen behind the ambitious venture say they are confident the fresh planning application answers the problems raised by Arun councillors when it was refused in March.

“I’m happy to confirm that we believe the resubmission of our planning application should be completed by the end of play on Wednesday,” Paul Rumke told the Observer on Tuesday. “We’ve been very eager to listen to what the Arun District Council officers have had to say.

“We believe we’ve come up with solutions to the previous objections and we’re very hopeful with how it will be received next time around.”

Mr Rumke said the overall design of the scheme had remained the same.

It involves ambitious redevelopment of three sites; the Regis Centre, Hothamton and the Esplanade Theatre.

The Regis Centre would be turned into a boardwalk of shops, a hotel, flats and a spa and gym; at Hothampton the new plans still include a 1,100-seater theatre; while a destination restaurant would be built on the Esplanade.

“There have been some changes but not to the overall design and not to the capacity of the theatre, which would allow the hosting of theatre productions, conferencing and music,” Mr Rumke said.

“It would bring a fantastic new facility to Bognor town centre and greatly increase footfall to the benefit of local traders.”

The project has also just received the backing of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in a letter which said it would be interest in bringing world-class concerts to the proposed new theatre.

Get your Bognor Regis Observer newspaper for just 38p per week for a year!

Your Bognor Regis Observer newspaper costs £1.05 each week - BUT if you buy a year’s subscription before June 4, 2016, you can enjoy a massive saving which works out at just 38p an edition.

Subscribe and read your favourite weekly, the Chichester, or Bognor Regis, or Midhurst & Petworth Observer, for 12 months for a one off advance payment of £19.76 - that works out at just 38p a copy for an entire year!

And as a valued subscriber you’ll continue to receive a 20% discount even after the initial 12 month offer has ended.

Once you’ve subscribed we’ll send you dated coupons to use instead of cash when paying for your Observer.

To take advantage of this fantastic offer simply click here and enter the offer code - 277PA-CBO.

Hurry though as offer ends on June 4, 2016.

Terms & Conditions: Offer valid to new customers only when paying by a one off direct debit charge of £19.76. Minimum 12 months subscription. Offer ends Saturday 4th June 2016. Cannot be used in conjunction with any other offer.