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Shoreham Harbour, which celebrates its 250th anniversary this year,
is looking to the future as well as the past. The port authority has
published a master plan detailing how it sees the harbour developing
over the next 15 years.
A 25 per cent growth in trade by 2026 is envisaged, with new
facilities to enable its commercial capacity to expand. Developments in
leisure use are also planned for, plus non-port provision such as
business and housing.
The Shoreham Society is studying new ideas for redeveloping the Pond
Road area in Shoreham. Adur Council has issued a new brief for the
redevelopment of this key central area following widespread concerns
about earlier proposals.
The new plans envisage retaining the existing community centre,
building new public facilities including a health centre on the
Burrscroft site, and replacing the existing health centre and library
with housing. The amount of housing proposed is considerably less than
in the earlier plans which involved demolishing the community centre.
The Shoreham Society challenged the original proposals on several grounds, including:
The society was also critical of several design aspects, and put
forward alternative suggestions offering major advantages. Society
experts are now studying the council's new proposals to see how many of
the concerns have been addressed.
Controversial plans for redeveloping St Mary's Hall, Shoreham, have been rejected for a second time.
The scheme, affecting East Street (facing St Mary's Church) and New
Road, was originally refused planning permission by Adur Council following objections by the Shoreham Society and
many individual local residents, but the developers appealed against the decision.
The appeal was considered by the planning inspectorate of the Environment Department following a local hearing and the inspectors have upheld the council's refusal.
Local objections were based on concerns about the appropriateness of what was proposed in such an important and historic conservation area. The Shoreham Society maintained that the developers had failed to address earlier objections raised by the public, English Heritage and Adur Council.
For a more detailed critique of why the proposed development was considered unacceptable, click here.
Plans have been approved to convert the historic Kingston Barn in St Julian's Lane into four dwellings. Having been refused permission to demolish the listed building, the owner applied for planning permission to convert it into three one-bedroom flats and a two-bedroom apartment.
Concern had been growing at the lack of maintenance work to repair recent fire damage or prevent further deterioration.
A proposal for a 72-bedroom hotel just off Shoreham High Street, which was rejected by Adur Council last year, is being considered again following an appeal by the developers.
The application by a London development company was refused on grounds including overdevelopment and inadequate parking.
The proposal for a four-storey building overlooking the River Adur on the site of Norfolk House, the old Inland Revenue building, included only 17 car parking spaces.
Environment Department planning inspectors are considering the appeal.
The historic Marlipins Museum in Shoreham has a new group of supporters who plan to revitalise the facility and raise much-needed funds for it.
Its owners, the Sussex Archaeological Society, called a meeting to explore ideas for improving the museum, which is housed in possibly the oldest secular building in Sussex and highlights the history of Shoreham, especially its maritime and cinematic history.
The new group, the Friends of the Marlipins Museum, was set up and an interim committee was elected to start work on preparing a constitution and proposing future arrangements.
Further information is available from the SAS trustee who is taking responsibility for this development, Prof Jeffery Leigh, on 01273 596292 or by email here.
A campaign to restore the decaying 19th Century Shoreham Fort is being stepped up, with an urgent appeal for volunteers and fundraising.
The fort at the eastern end of Shoreham Beach is in serious disrepair and experts have warned that the ancient structure is in danger of collapse unless urgent work is carried out.
The Friends of Shoreham Fort is mounting a fundraising campaign and the Shoreham Port Authority, which owns the land, says it is keen to see the monument safeguarded.
Click here for more information about the fort and the campaign to save it.
The economic situation and the ending of regional housing targets
have added to the uncertainty over the timing and extent of housing development at
Shoreham Harbour. Proposals for transport improvements in the area are
being progressed following recent public exhibitions, and some
feasibility work is continuing, but doubt has grown over the likely
size and nature of the development.
The harbour is being examined for potention eco-town development.
The government has funding feasibility studies into major developments
with a strong emphasis on low environmental impact, and more funding for this work has recently been promised.
Although the number of new homes predicted has been reduced, there remains inevitable controversy over such large-scale development.
Some environmentalists welcome the green emphasis being applied to the proposals, but others are dismayed at what they see as overdevelopment in an already overcrowded region, with negative impacts far outweighing any possible green benefits.
A proposal for nearly 200 homes on land by Southlands Hospital has been given planning approval by Adur Council.
Significant improvements were made to the proposals following suggestions by the Shoreham Society, but a number of concerns remained and the society submitted further suggestions for the council to take into account when considering the application.
Many people are disappointed that the approved development includes the demolition of Storrington House, a former dormitary block at the hospital.
The go-ahead means work can start on the scheme, which includes 125 houses and 72 flats.
See the society's comments by clicking here.
A historic piece of Shoreham heritage could possibly be given a new lease of life - if there's enough interest.
The unique cast-iron roof was a prominent feature on the corner of St Mary's Road and East Street, and it has been kept in storage since its removal. Opportunities might exist for incorporating it into new development proposals in Shoreham, and the Shoreham Society would campaign for this of there is sufficient demand.
The full story of this fascinating construction and its historic importance was in the Autumn issue of the Shoreham Society Journal, which is distributed free to all members. Read the article here.
There are more pictures and plenty of historical information about the Vinery on the shorehambysea.com website.