The Worthing Planning Committee is scheduled to meet to discuss planning applications, including an extension to the district heat network, a request to vary a legal agreement relating to affordable housing at Union Place, and a proposed garage/workshop at Cemetery Lodge. The meeting will also cover public and member questions, and confirmation of the minutes of the previous meeting.

District Heat Network Extension

The committee is scheduled to consider a report regarding the proposed extension to the district heat network, specifically phase two, which involves the installation of underground pipes to connect the energy centre on High Street to Splashpoint and the Pavilion Theatre. The pipes will run through Steyne Gardens and along the promenade. The applicant is Megan Owen, Hemiko.

The report notes that the application is before the committee due to the level of public interest and a councillor call-in.

The report pack includes a description of the heat network:

Hemiko will be installing a network of highly insulated underground pipes in the ground. These pipes will carry hot water from the central Energy Centre to buildings across Worthing, forming the core infrastructure of the Worthing Heat Network. This buried pipework is what allows low-carbon heat to be delivered efficiently and sustainably to homes, businesses, and public facilities.

Unlike traditional gas or electric utilities, the Worthing Heat Network uses underground pipes to deliver centralised heat, reducing the need for individual systems and offering a more efficient, future-ready heating solution.

The proposed route is within the Steyne Gardens Conservation Area and the South Street Conservation Area. It is also in proximity to listed buildings, including the war memorial south of Steyne Gardens and the Pavilion Theatre.

The Worthing Society raised concerns about the disruption to the traffic system and the impact on businesses, particularly in the run-up to Christmas. They also emphasised the importance of respecting the landscaping in Steyne Gardens and Beach House Grounds, and protecting the Grade II listed Pavilion Theatre from potentially damaging sub-ground vibrations.

Several representations were received from residents and businesses, raising concerns about transport impacts, parking, disruption to businesses (especially during the Christmas period), noise levels and lack of access to the promenade. Some comments also expressed the need for compensation for loss of trade and questioned the benefits of the project.

The applicant, Hemiko, provided a statement of community involvement, addressing some of the issues raised. They stated that construction plans have been designed to limit works in the road, with only 16% of the total works required for this phase being in the road. They also planned for construction activities to begin in January and complete by the summer school holidays, in response to business feedback.

The report notes that the installation of the heat network piping is in accordance with the policies of the Worthing Local Plan 2020-2036, specifically Strategic objective 21 and Policy SP2, which support the creation of low carbon heating/cooling networks and the delivery of renewable energy schemes.

The report also considers the impact on trees and biodiversity net gain¹. A Tree Valuation and Condition Survey was carried out, and the proposed route has the potential to affect trees within the gardens. The council's tree officer advised that a replacement tree should be planted for tree T62, which is unlikely to be adequately relocated. A condition requiring a replacement tree should the category A Norway Maple show signs of deterioration over the next two years is also suggested.

The Head of Planning recommends that permission be granted subject to conditions, including approved plans, standard time limit, development in accordance with a note on file regarding Steyne Gardens Trees, relocation of tree T62, details of mulch rings, a biodiversity net gain plan, a construction management plan, careful moving and storage of benches, an archaeological watching brief, and notification to the Local Planning Authority (LPA) should the works affect the memorial garden.

Union Place Car Park

The committee is scheduled to review a request from Roffey Homes to vary a legal agreement related to the Union Place Car Park, specifically regarding affordable housing obligations.

In February 2024, the Planning Committee approved a 216-unit residential development at Union Place, which included a requirement for 20% affordable housing. The subsequent legal agreement included provisions for Roffey Homes to market the affordable housing units to registered providers² for a 12-month period.

The report states that Roffey Homes has been marketing the site since October 2024. The report also references a resolution made at the July meeting of the Joint Strategic Committee (JSC), which outlined a process for Roffey Homes to provide equivalent affordable housing off-site if commercial terms for the acquisition of the 43 affordable units on site could not be agreed.

Policy DM3 of the Worthing Local Plan 2020-2036 states that development for flats on previously developed land shall be subject to 20% affordable housing provision, and that affordable housing should be delivered on-site, but in exceptional circumstances a financial contribution may be accepted by the Council in order to provide affordable housing off-site where the other sites may be more appropriate to provide affordable housing than the site of the proposed development.

Roffey Homes engaged Faithorn Farrell Timms in August 2024 to contact 41 registered providers. 29 of the 41 providers responded, with 27 of those respondents confirming that they had no interest in taking the affordable units. This left only 2 interested parties, with invitations to tender sent out in February 2025 with a deadline of March. During that period, it appears that one of the remaining interested parties confirmed they no longer wished to pursue the site, while the others did not meet the deadline for submission of tender.

Following the closure of the tender stage, a Supported Housing Provider, not previously included in the original contact process did express an interest and hence the process was re-opened to this provider between May and June but shortly before the new tender deadline, the potential provider withdrew citing commercial viability.

Roffey Homes then placed the site on the Homes England affordable housing portal where registered providers can view unsold affordable housing units but no offers have been received via this process.

The report also mentions an independent assessment from CBRE UK Ltd, which concludes that there is currently no realistic appetite for the provision of affordable housing at Union Place.

The Head of Planning recommends that the committee agree that Roffey Homes has carried out its obligations regarding the marketing of affordable housing units and that the developer is free to dispose of the affordable housing units as market housing units, subject to a deed of variation to the existing legal agreement. The deed of variation would replace paragraph 1.13 of Schedule 2 of the existing section 106 agreement in respect of the timing of the Affordable Housing Commuted Sum payment and replace with wording that is consistent with the resolution of the July meeting of the Joint Strategic Committee.

Cemetery Lodge

The committee is scheduled to consider a planning application for a single-storey timber double garage for use as a workshop at Cemetery Lodge, Durrington Cemetery, Findon Road. The applicant is Men in Sheds (Michael Tanner).

The application follows a previous approval at the July meeting for the change of use of the Lodge building to a carpentry and repair workshop. The proposed building would be located to the rear of the Lodge and would be just under 3 metres in height, with a footprint of 5.8 x 5.5 metres.

The application site is to the south east corner of Durrington Cemetery and to the north west of the roundabout comprising the A27/A24 junction at Offington Corner. The subject building consists of an attractive 2 storey mainly flint faced building. Because of boundary vegetation and fencing, the building is only partly visible from outside of the cemetery and also some way distant from the nearest residential properties in Fontwell Road to the east (approximately 80 metres) and Goodwood Road to the south (approximately 65 metres) and in both cases separated by the busy A roads. To the north and west is the remainder of the Cemetery. The building is neither listed nor within a Conservation Area but is a Local Interest building.

The Head of Planning considers that the main issues in the determination of the application is the effect of the proposal upon the character and amenities of the surrounding area.

The Head of Planning recommends that permission be granted subject to conditions, including approved plans, full permission, restrictions on the hours of use and machinery operation, and a restriction on retail sales from the building.

Other Matters

The agenda for the meeting also includes time for:

• Substitute Members to declare their substitutions.
• Declarations of Interest from members and officers.
• Public Question Time, with questions submitted in advance.
• Members Questions, also submitted in advance.
• Confirmation of the minutes of the Planning Committee meeting held on Wednesday 17 September 2025.
• Items Raised Under Urgency Provisions.