The old Shoreham cement works and quarry along the Steyning Road have been disused for over 30 years. Various ideas, plans and projects have been mooted for this huge eyesore of a site including an ‘Eden Project’, a holiday village, dry ski slope and even a dinosaur park. Back in 2003, a planning application for mixed residential and business use reached as far as the then Deputy Prime Minister’s desk, where it was finally rejected on appeal. The site is currently owned by the Dudman group of companies.
Just over ten years ago, the South Downs National Park (SDNP) came into existence. As the 44-hectare site lies within the Park’s boundary, even though it straddles Adur and Horsham local districts, the South Downs National Park Authority is the official planning authority, to which any future planning applications for the site must be made.
South Downs Area Action Plan
Just as Adur District Council has a Local Plan, so does the South Downs National Park. Within its Plan, the SDNP regards the site of the Shoreham Cement Works as a “great opportunity to deliver an innovative, exciting and imaginative solution”. One of its planning policies is to prepare an Area Action Plan (AAP) to “enable a comprehensive, appropriate and viable scheme to be delivered”.
The SDNP has now reached a key stage in preparing its AAP with an ‘Issues & Options’ document which it will shortly publish and seek your views on. The Plan will cover a range of topics including:
- biodiversity and ecology
- landscape and design
- recreation and tourism
- the economy and jobs
- new homes including affordable homes
- cultural heritage
- transport
- climate change
(You can read the relevant pages from the South Downs National Park Local Plan about the Shoreham Cement Works here on our website).
Community Consultation Event
Starting on Tuesday 7th June, the South Downs National Park Authority is running an eight-week consultation seeking the views of everyone who is interested in the site. Here at the Shoreham Society we are delighted to be hosting one of their community events to listen to your ideas and opinions on Friday 17th June. It is at the Shoreham Centre, starting at 6pm and is free to attend.
The event will be in the style of market stalls where you can speak with the planners, read some of the studies that have been prepared on the site and learn how to use the online consultation system.
Following the initial consultation, the SDNP Authority will prepare a ‘Preferred Option’ document, to which it will also be seeking a public response. The final Area Action Plan for the Shoreham Cement Works will be published next year and used in assessing any future planning applications for the site.
We hope you will come to the initial Cement Works Consultation on Friday 17th June. It is your chance to influence one of the biggest projects in our area.
Friday 17th June, 6pm until 9pm (arrive any time) at the Shoreham Centre, Pond Road. Free entry. Refreshments will be available.
I would like to be involved in this discussion
I think the cement works could be a centre for all sports & recreation activities locally. We have so many ways to get fit, gain experiences and use our environment but no where this is co-ordinated. There is kayaking, off-road biking, hiking, horse riding, sailing, SUP, kiting, wild swimming, fishing, learning to fly etc. if the cement works became an eco lodge with accommodation & camping with an information centre set in a beautiful environment it could tie together all the wonders of our area. It could also be used for mental health retreats and physical training camps encompassing all number of fitness regimes. Using the downs & the river we could have a powerful and impressive asset and create meaningful employment and training
Looking at the aerial view of the great gorge of destruction against the downs confirmed my opinion that the site should be returned to natural habitat. Trees, shrubs and grassland to blend with the surrounding downs. Landscaping to include footpaths for recreation.
The opposite side of the road could be car parking for walkers.
Housing with shops and access to local nature walks would be good
Has a biodiversity audit been conducted on this site, if not then it needs to happen before any developers start running their hands together. The site should be returned to nature with an educational centre that will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come. We do need housing but not on sites such as this where transport links are not designed for such an influx in vehicle numbers and disregard for the heritage of our natural world.
I agree with comments already made regarding returning it to nature. And of course a biodiversity audit as Mark Phillips said. The amount of wildlife that has made this place it’s home over the last 30 years must be huge. It would be an absolute travesty to ruin this wildlife refuge so that housing developers can turn a profit. I will be coming along on the 17th June
An eco visitor attraction similar to The Eden project will provide plant and nature, arts and culture while letting the area flourish. I would love to work there too
I remember when it closed and that it was never redeveloped because it contains Blue Asbestos
I believe that is absolutely correct with the cost of controlled demolition and disposal allegedly running into many millions of pounds! It has long been said that this cost alone has put off many potential schemes in the past plus I believe the land that the current building are on would have to be segregated and capped for a number of years due to the asbestos contamination.
In addition to my previous comments, perhaps the following might also bee considered.
1. Include a small marinas with some accommodation but including mature trees and gardens to minimise the impact of possible cement building.
2. The site has a wonderful view of the river and Lancing College which would make a beautiful situationforr a good restaurant, cafe and artisan shop.
3. Rather than a dry ski slope changed to a proper indoor snow slope as there are none available in this part of the world. (Check internet).
4. Include a big rock climbing facility as yet again I don’t think is available locally.
5. I think that these combined with many other suggestions would provide a much needed asset to Sussex as well as a tourist and visitor attraction which would encourage visitors to explorer other attraction and make Sussex a real tourist attraction as well as providing facilities and work to the local residents.
I think it must be a multi attraction centre so as to attract the widest possible facilities. The opportunities for a site of this size Will Never be available again. A real one off that needs to be done right.
I would propose a mega sports Center with Olympic sized swimming pool, climbing facility, tennis courts. Possibly a canoe /paddle board centre on the river bank section. Additional bike rental facility.
I will probably be knocked down in flames for this – but how about a re-cyling plant and state of the art incinerator? We are told we are running out of landfill sites and energy generated from the incinerator could be used to help Shoreham. Needless to say it would have to be free from noxious emissions but I understand these can now be eliminated.
The site has been commercial, is not attractive in any way and the plant could be tucked away out of sight.
We all want energy and re – cycling and should not be NIMBYs
I totally agree with Rachel’s comments on a recycling plant and incinerator.
We must stop sending the waste we create, to third world countries and landfill sites.
We must deal with our own waste, recycling what we can, which is commendable, and even endeavour to greatly increase this amount. But there will be waste that can not be recycled,
This is produced locally and must be dealt with locally.
This is a one off opportunity, the site on the North east of the A283, is ideal for this, as it is self contained, even having its own chimney, the wind is predominately from the Southeast, and the site well away from any major urbanisation.
Our nearest incinerator is in Newhaven town, which is where the Ouse valley reaches the sea, and is not obtrusive, but the cement works is a far more suitable site, The site could also be landscaped with trees and bunded banks.
The other side of the A283 could be leisure based, lodges/hotels/cafes/restaurants. picnic sites by the river, parking for walkers/ramblers/cyclists all wishing to enjoy the River Adur and Adur Valley
Let’s not spend the next 20years talking about it, let’s push on
Let’s have an Eden Project or let it just go naturally back to nature,
There are some great ideas in this thread. I urge everyone who can, to come along to the event. The South Downs National Park team have researched a variety of options, and are very aware of the site’s limitations and opportunities – also, they are an engaging bunch who welcome discussion!
My father went to work there when I was 4 years old (1934), transferrred to Southampton Depot during WWII and then transferred back to Shoreham after WWII. he was forced into retirement at 64 yrs old (that was the Law). He was heart broken. Now you don’t know what to do with the place. Some of the suggestions appear to have been given some consideration, but the first thing that needs to be done is testing of the grounds. From past experiences such as tests done at Celle, Germany; these grounds could be contaminated, leaving this company open to being sued. One writer expressed some concern about Blue Asbestos. Things like this have to be taken care of before one invests large amounts of money into planning for projects that will never materialize.