Worthing's Aquarena site to be put on market

The site is next to the council’s proposed new £17 million swimming and leisure complex, and the council intends to keep the existing Aquarena open until its replacement is completed.

Monday’s cabinet meeting agreed to market the site, at an appropriate time, on a freehold and/or long leasehold basis, and to release £10,000 in 2010/11 and £60,000 in 2011/12 to fund legal and marketing costs.

The site includes the Aquarena up to the adopted highway in Brighton Road, part of the former boating pool site, which has now been filled in and grassed over, the Aquarena car park, plus an EDF electric substation.

A number of possible uses for the site are proposed in the draft development brief. It will be the developers’ responsibility to ensure their proposed development does not interfere with any rights of light in respect of the surrounding properties.

Cabinet members were reminded the timing of the new pool’s construction meant the council will be faced with borrowing about £7m until such time as the Aquarena or Grafton sites are sold.

Council leader Paul Yallop said: “Ideally, we would like to offer the site on a 999-year leasehold. But we want to offer as many options as possible, including the freehold.”