The Worthing Planning Committee met on 17 September 2025 to discuss planning applications and a tree preservation order. The committee was scheduled to discuss a planning application for the change of use of industrial units to allow retail use, and another for the replacement of facades on beach chalets. They were also scheduled to discuss the confirmation of a Tree Preservation Order.

Planning Applications

Meadow Road Depot

The committee was scheduled to consider a planning application, referenced as AWDM/0531/25, for Units 2 and 3 at Meadow Road Depot, Meadow Road, Worthing. The application requests a change of use from industrial and storage (Class B2/B8¹) to industrial, storage and retail (Class B2/B8 and Class E²).

Guild Care, a local charity, has been using Units 1 and 2 for storage, retail, recycling and vehicle storage since 2004, known as 'The Greenhouse Donation Centre'. Since 2022, Unit 3 has also been used for retail and storage under a temporary permission. This new application seeks to renew that permission for a further five years, pending redevelopment of the site.

The application seeks permission for continued use of Unit 3 as retail space with some storage, as approved in 2022, and to confirm that a larger proportion of Unit 2 can be used for retail than previously permitted. The total retail floorspace would continue to be 1138sqm, with 636 sqm for storage and associated work.

The proposed opening hours are 9:00am until 6:30pm Monday to Saturday, and 10:00am to 5:00pm on Sundays, which were previously approved in September 2024.

West Sussex County Council Highway Authority, Southern Water, WSP (the council's drainage consultants), the Environmental Health Officer and the Property & Investment Manager raised no objections to the application.

The Public Reports Pack notes that the council's planning policy DM11 states that Key Employment Areas are:

essential in maintaining a strong and diverse supply of employment sites and premises to meet the needs of the local economy and given the significant land constraints the Council are seeking to protect them for employment uses appropriate to their location. Only in exceptional circumstances, where there is clear and robust evidence that the introduction of alternative uses is required to retain a diverse and resilient local economy, will such a change be considered.

The planning assessment noted that the use has been in operation since 2004, and more recently at a larger scale with the inclusion of Unit 3 in 2022 and that there was no evidence to suggest that the use at this edge of the employment area has negatively affected the wider employment estate or its economy. It also noted that the Council's Property & Investment Manager confirms that whilst redevelopment for employment remains the ultimate goal, the prospects of long term employment-use tenants is hindered by the condition of the building and its external shared spaces with Council services, and that in this context, the proposed use provides a good employment density and maintains a secure site pending redevelopment.

It was recommended that the application be approved for a temporary period of 5 years, subject to conditions. These included that the retail use is restricted to the sale of donated items and excludes food sales, and that a Travel Plan is agreed and implemented.

Beach Parade Chalets

The committee was also scheduled to discuss an application, referenced as AWDM/0722/25, concerning the beach chalets on Beach Parade. The proposal involves the replacement of the existing facades to the beach huts and kiosks.

The beach chalets are on the local interest list and are situated within the Steyne Gardens conservation area.

The proposal is to refurbish the facades of the beach chalets with a standardised approach, with powdercoated aluminium frames rather than the existing steel crittal frames.

The Worthing Society objected to the application, stating that the replacement of the glazing and frames should only use powder coated Crittall windows to replicate the existing more precisely, and that a cheaper material would cheapen the overall appearance of these coastal heritage assets.

The council's Conservation Architect commented that the proposed aluminium sections are quite flat looking compared to the current Crittall, and that although the overall fenestration form of the proposed windows appear acceptable, the detail differences will be noticeable.

The Beach Chalets Addendum notes that the application was deferred from a previous meeting, with additional information requested on the differences between steel and aluminium systems and whether alternative sources of funding had been considered to provide steel windows.

The applicant stated that aluminium was preferred as steel windows would require additional future maintenance due to the rust risk, particularly with the exposed coastal location, whereas aluminium would be a more corrosion-resistant option after initial powder coating. They also stated that an option for an integral glazing bar was not considered as they would be less secure, take longer to install and would have more future maintenance.

The applicant also provided information on possible external funding, stating that there was approximately £20,000 which could be funded through internally received monies, but this would only serve to help renovate 3 of the 41 chalets (aluminium) or 1.8 chalets (steel). They added that heritage funding would not be applicable as the assets are not listed, and even if they were, any heritage funding would need to be geared towards the pier/lido as a priority.

It was recommended that the application be granted subject to conditions, including that the frames be pre-anodised prior to powder coating.

Tree Preservation Order

The committee was scheduled to consider a report on Tree Preservation Order 3 of 2025, which relates to a linear group of 77 Tamarisk trees on the north side of the Public Open Space adjacent to the carriageway of Marine Crescent, Worthing.

The Tree Preservation Order 3 of 2025 Committee Report notes that the trees are a prominent part of the street scene and make a significant contribution to the character and visual amenities of the area.

Six representations had been received from four households, two in objection, one in support and three with a stance of neither object or support.

The objections included concerns that the trees grow too big for their location, that they are unattractive if not cut every year, and a suggestion that residents should be allowed to prune Council owned trees with consent or permission.

The reasons for support were that Worthing Borough Council will take responsibility for the trees, and an assumption that this would require that the trees are annually reduced.

It was recommended that Worthing Tree Preservation Order Number 1 of 2025 be confirmed without modifications.