Plans To Transform Bognor Seafront Get Go-Ahead

Wednesday, 24 March 2021 11:10

The design for Place St Maur includes areas for outdoor cafe seating and water pools.

A set of designs showing how Place St Maur in Bognor Regis could look when transformed have been given the thumbs-up from both the public and ADC Cabinet Members.

Strong support for the proposals was received during recent public consultation which attracted 337 responses, mostly from Bognor Regis residents.

The design has a flexible plaza area with wave patterned surfacing and water jets in the centre to be lit at night, along with shallow pools for water play.

This area has been designed to host events and the design team at consultants LUC has been working with event organisers to ensure that it will be fit for purpose.

On the edges of the site, coastal planting has been included that will sit alongside new seating, made from materials associated with the beach such as pebbles and timber. There will also be areas for outdoor café tables and chairs.

Councillor Samantha-Jayne Staniforth, Arun District Council’s Cabinet Member for Neighbourhood Services, said:

“Sadly this key area of our coastal town has been left unloved for many years, so it’s been exciting to see the plans develop. LUC designers have produced something very special that will not only uplift the town for our residents but bring visitors in from far and wide. This in turn will give our local businesses a much-needed boost. I am very excited to have worked with our officers on this project and cannot wait to see the new design take shape.”

Now that the plans have been approved, more detailed designs will be drawn up ready for the project to go to tender in the summer.

Once a company has been chosen, work on the Place St Maur scheme is expected to start in autumn 2021 and be completed by spring 2022.

After a successful bid to Coast to Capital, the Council was provisionally awarded a £1.2 million grant to fund the project.

Proposals to make the Esplanade more pedestrian-friendly were also agreed. This work will be taken forward as funding becomes available.