Recession topples central tower plan for Bognor Regis

The plans for the eye-catching building with 180 flats have been scrapped by the developer.

The skyscraper was intended by St Modwen Properties to be a centrepiece of its regeneration plans for Bognor.

Twice the height of any other building, it was intended to set the scene for the 100m proposals to create a vibrant town centre.

But St Modwen regional director Tim Seddon said the housing market crunch meant it was no longer viable to build such a concentration of apartments.

The split public opinion about the block also played a part in ensuring it never made it past a designer's sketchbook.

Mr Seddon stated the removal of the tower was the one aspect of St Modwen's scheme which the company would not be pursuing.

"We are recognising some of the concerns expressed at our exhibition just over a year ago," he added.

"The market has also changed in terms of what is an acceptable risk for us.

"I think the housing on that site will come back in another form. It will be of a smaller scale rather than a tower.

"There will still be a number of apartments there along with retail and offices. We are also still talking to the primary care trust about possible new premises for them."

Mr Seddon revealed the end of the tower dream as he re-affirmed St Modwen's commitment to Bognor's regeneration.

Rumours have been circulating about the company's willingness to embark on the town's biggest building projects amid the worst financial circumstances in a century.

They were sparked by the company's request for a delay of up to three years in its deadline to submit a planning application to Arun District Council for the Hothamton and the Regis Centre locations.

This was due to be finally accepted by councillors next Wednesday, April 15. Mr Seddon said the delay did not mean St Modwen lacked the financial muscle or expertise to carry on with the ambitious project.

He sounded a warning to anyone who thought pushing back the deadline to March 31, 2012, would alter the firm's ambition to put more flats on the seafront.

"Putting flats on the seafront is right in a mixed use scheme," he stated. "One of Bognor's biggest assets is the seafront.

"To have a quality development with a number of apartments with strong sea views, which will add to the architecture of the built form in that area, can only be a good thing.

"It has been proved over the years that single use developments are not good for town centres. We need to generate an 18-hour economy and residential alone will not offer that to us."

The number of apartments, stated at 168 in the initial proposals, could well change.

"It is not set in stone," he explained. But he said St Modwen was equally committed to maintaining the leisure aspect of the Regis Centre redevelopment with the council's chosen leisure operator.

Openwide International has confirmed its continued desire to run the combined film and live entertainment complex which will form the centrepiece of the venue along with a ten-pin bowling alley. The largest of the auditoria will offer flexible space for films, live shows, conferences and exhibitions. Four smaller screens will be devoted to films.

Mr Seddon predicted the housing market would steady as 2009 progressed and would slowly start to pick up towards the end of next year.

This was why the company sought a delay to its timetable rather than walking away from Bognor after it had invested several hundreds of thousands of pounds so far.

"We want to make sure we are ready to deliver when the market recovers and not have to go back to square one again," he added.

Further public consultation will be held before any planning application is submitted.

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