5 Town Network
Background
In September 2004, the Coastal West Sussex Partnership approved the 5 Town Network Project. This project, funded by the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) established a Network of regeneration practitioners across the towns of Selsey, Bognor Regis, Littlehampton, Worthing and Shoreham-by-Sea.
The Network sought to ensure a co-ordinated approach to the long term regeneration and vitality of the 5 Towns. The following objectives were agreed by key partners:
- A more co-ordinated approach to urban regeneration and town centre management across the coastal strip
- A network to share information, best practice and lessons learned
- Increasing the skills base of local authority officers and Elected Members in the 5 Towns
- A sequenced approach to accessing external funding
Capital Projects
In October 2006, the Network was awarded £1m of funding from SEEDA for 2.5 years. This is enabled the Network, to take forward implementation of key proposed initiatives within the masterplans and continued to provide a programme of capacity building, networking and skills sharing events and training. Examples include:
- The development of a Coastal Opportunities Guide promoting Coastal West Sussex as an area for investment
- Creating a welcome into the town and raising the awareness and investment at a localised level in Selsey.
- Funding in Littlehampton is being used to support research and development into the regeneration of Littlehampton Harbour and a development brief to take forward the key site of St Martins within the Vision.
- In Bognor Regis due to the scale and nature of the developments taking place across the town and the progress already made, the need for specialist development and environmental advice and support on a long term and continuing continual basis was a key priority. Funding was also used for a mobile live information point to disseminate recent information on the developments within the town.
- The production of a seafront and public realm strategy and the production of a Retail Heart Development Brief and a report on options for the Cultural & Civic Hub development.
- In Shoreham, funding has been prioritised for a lighting and street scene in the Church area in the heart of the town centre and a significant project to create a Voluntary/Community Sector hub with the primary purpose being the realise of a key site for redevelopment.
Training / Sharing Knowledge
Over the course of five years, over 780 learning opportunities have been provided. These events have ranged from information sharing, capacity building and networking events and covered a huge range of topics. See below for a sample of what has been delivered:
- Understanding Commercial Development (March 2005)
- Compulsory Purchase For Regeneration (June 2006)
- Sustainable Communities Masterclass (March 2007)
- Effective Media Skills (March & October 2007, April 2008)
- Thriving Coastal Town Economies (July 2008)
- Coast Young Planners Event (July 2008 & February 2009)
- Visions & Practicalities of Place Making and Market Shaping (November 2008)
- Prince 2 Project Management (October 2007 & January 2009)
- Evaluation of Public Art (February 2009)
- Member Involvement in Major Planning Applications (March 2009)
For further information on all the events we have delivered please see previous events pages.
Joint Working Initiatives
The Network through initiating a number of joint projects has a well-established culture of joint working on common priorities and challenges within Coastal West Sussex and beyond. Examples of joint initiatives are below:
- In March 2006, CACI, a leading consultancy company specialising in town centre and shopper profiling were commissioned to compile individual retail studies on each of the 5 Towns and additionally for the city of Chichester. The retail study detailed the current retail offer, shopper’s profiles, competing retail centres and potential retailers and shoppers that could be attracted to the area.
- In April 2007, Donaldson’s Property Consultants were awarded a contract to provide specialist property advice for the period of April 2007 to March 2009 to developments coming forward from each of the 5 town’s masterplans.
- In June 2007, a Coastal Opportunities event took place promoting Coastal West Sussex as a place to invest to prospective developers by successfully demonstrating partnership working between local authorities and developers within the towns. As a result of this, Bognor Regis in particular had several enquiries into available sites post the event.
- In February 2008, a Hotel & Accommodation Futures Study for the Coastal West Sussex strip was commissioned. This will be used to look at the future development potential of the hotel and short stay accommodation sectors among the 5 Towns.
The Way Forward
The 5 Towns Network has grown from strength to strength since its establishment in 2004 and has been recognised as an example of best practice by local, regional and national partners.
With external funding for this project has now come to an end the 5 Town Network Steering Group, and the Coastal West Sussex Partnership, have agreed the importance of the collaboration that this project has fostered, and that the work of the project needs to continue.
In anticipation of external funding coming to an end, the five coastal local authorities, under the banner of the Coastal West Sussex Partnership, have agreed:
- To continue the training and best practice activities of the 5 Town Network and that these activities will continue to be directed by a group of economic development and regeneration officers working along the coast.
- The activities will be a key work strand of the Coastal West Sussex Partnership that will monitor progress, ensuring that these activities are consistent with the wider vision for Coastal West Sussex.
- To continue to fund the Manager post that will continue the partnership working, training and best practice activities.
In addition, we will continue to explore other funding sources to support our work.
Photo top : East Beach Café, Littlehampton
Coastal West Sussex is a partnership of local authorities, business support agencies, health, skills and business partners.
