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That the award of £30,060 to Apron
Creative CIC for development of the Apron Community Farm project on
Adur Council land at Old Salts Farm is approved.
 

Reasons for the decision

Adur District Council owns land at Old Salts
Farm, Lancing which was previously home to Riverside Equestrian
Centre, tenants who surrendered their lease in 2024.  The
council subsequently issued an expression of interest which
attracted 7 applications, some of which were commercial operators
or businesses, and not deemed appropriate for the site.  2
community/social value based applications were taken through to
full business plan development.  One application was a
proposal to support the homeless through practical learning with
car repair, and the other was Apron Community Farm which included
regenerative farming features such as a polytunnel, herb garden and
orchard, as well as sites for wellbeing and therapy sessions, an
educational space, an area for a children’s forest school,
ponds and workshop spaces for traditional craftspeople to share
their skills.  This application was assessed by a panel of
officers as most suitable for the location, delivering a range of
benefits and outcomes, particularly local community
involvement.

The council is keen to see the site regenerated for the benefit of
the local community and recognises the costs involved in developing
the project to the stage that further external funding can be
secured.  Following consideration at the Joint Strategic
Committee, October 2025 as part of the councils wider Fair, Green
and Local strategy, as well as Nature Vision, the Adur Cabinet
Member for Environment & Leisure is asked to consider the
release of £30,060 to support Phase 1 Project
Development.  Apron Creative CIC have launched a Crowdfunder
in parallel to this request, is securing a range of pro bono
support, and has also submitted a funding proposal to the National
Heritage Lottery Fund for £55,000 for the project’s
Phase 3.

In making this decision for Phase 1 funding, it should be
recognised that delivery of the final project will be reliant on
the securing of future phases of funding, including Phase 2, which
is not yet secured.

Alternative options considered

A considerable amount of unpaid volunteering
time has already been committed to the project.  Apron
Community Farm promises to transform an unused piece of public land
into a vibrant community facility, with additional natural flood
management benefits through the proposed wetland scheme.
 
Given the EOI process did not generate any
suitable alternatives, if the project does not receive development
funding, it is likely that the land will remain unused, with the
additional risk that the Local Government Reform process underway
will further reduce the likelihood of active project work at this
site for some years to come.