Student's exam piece shows bold vision for Teville Gate

Chris Collett with his A-Level piece, which saw him design a project for the Teville Gate site SUS-170530-110143001

Sadly, this plan is not the latest concept from the owners of the dilapidated site but the brainchild of an 18-year-old A-Level student.

Aspiring architect Chris Collett’s design technology final piece aimed to demonstrate how improvements at Teville Gate could transform the space.

Simon Orchard, headmaster of Our Lady of Sion, where Chris studies, said: “Chris has done an amazing job and it is a credit to him that he wanted to do something that would benefit the community that he lives in. He is a very forward thinking 18 year old.

“Teville Gate is a focus of many local people during this time of general election and we hope that local councillors may see Chris’s work and include elements into their scoping for the town’s future.”

Chris worked with a qualified architect and researched the piece using council and public feedback to come up with his proposal.

It incorporates apartments and leisure facilities, including a cinema and ice rink.

Worthing Borough Council, meanwhile, has urged the site’s owners, Mosaique, to bring forward a scheme.

Cabinet member for environment Diane Guest said: “We continue to work closely with the owner of the Teville Gate site to progress redevelopment plans at the earliest opportunity.”

The council began work on Tuesday to close part of the site’s car park to minimise lighting and maintenance costs.

The facilty is under-used, according to the council, and five upper levels and two annexes will be cordoned off.It will remain open while work is carried out.

Mrs Guest said: “We apologise for any inconvenience while we carry out this work.

“We are committed to delivering cost-effective services for council taxpayers and the usage figures at Teville Gate have informed our decision to close off parts of the car park.”

The car park is managed by the council but it, like the rest of the site, is privately owned.

Mosaique bought the site – minus Teville Gate House – in 2015 and promised a ‘world-class’ development’ but has yet to deliver full plans.