1 Overview
The Arun Growth Deal is a shared 5-year plan between Arun District Council (ADC) and West Sussex County Council. As the first 5-year plan comes to an end, we have created a new version. The updated plan sets out a clear economic direction for the next 5 years and brings a renewed focus on working together.
The updated deal sets out shared goals and key projects to help grow the local economy in a way that can last. It supports plans for new homes, better infrastructure, and more jobs. By working together and using resources well, the deal will help Arun attract more investment, visitors, businesses and people to live in the area.
The deal also supports wider plans to improve the economy across the district and the region, as set out in the West Sussex Economic Strategy 2025 to 2035.
2 Bognor Regis priorities
The Growth Programme outlines improving public spaces and infrastructure in Bognor Regis as a priority. Bognor Regis public space includes enhancing the link from the railway station through the town centre and down to the seafront.
Alexandra Theatre
The county council is supporting Arun District Council (ADC) to develop their plans for the Alexandra Theatre. The redevelopment of the theatre is a focal point in the culture-led vision for Bognor Regis. The theatre acts as a catalyst for wider investment in the area including the Bognor Regis esplanade scheme led by the county council and the Place St Maur scheme.
Combined with significant investment of £12.2m from the successful Levelling Up Fund (LUF) bid, ADC are contributing a further £3m to develop the theatre into the cultural centre of the district.
These plans include increasing seating to 386 seats, improving its look and feel, improving the building’s energy efficiency, adding up to 2,700sqm of additional arts/cultural floor space and 5 new studios to provide a space for local community groups to prosper. Construction on the theatre has commenced. Find the latest updates.
Bognor Regis Esplanade Public Realm Improvements scheme
The Bognor Regis Esplanade Public Realm Improvements scheme (BREPRI), funded by the county council, will complement the LUF funding.
This scheme delivered improvements to:
- the esplanade and the area in front of Place St Maur and Alexandra Theatre
- highway crossing points between the beach and town, creating a more accessible and connected community space
- enhance the experience of visitors with connectivity between the:
- esplanade
- current Place St Maur improvement scheme
- renovation of the Alexander Theatre, Bognor Regis arcade
- seafront
On 23 May 2024, the county council published a key decision approving detailed design and the start of the procurement process, and allocating £1.369 million of capital funds to the project's delivery.
The project started construction in November 2024 and completed in time for the busy events season in early April 2025. Find more information on Your Voice.
Enterprise Bognor Regis
There are plans for a business park to the north of Bognor Regis. This will provide space for new businesses and will also allow existing businesses room to grow or space for relocation. Find further information on Arun.gov.uk.
Bognor Regis masterplan
The scheme's main focus is to Identify key opportunities for regeneration in Bognor Regis to make the best use of assets and resources and identify potential sources of funding. As part of the wider masterplan, the Growth Deal will investigate development options for the Regis Centre Car Park.
Former Brewers Fayre (Regis Centre)
The scheme will look into options to regenerate the Regis Centre (former Brewers Fayre premises) to the south of the site. The idea will be to develop an indoor events space in the currently vacant restaurant pub, to support Bognor Regis as a cultural hub.
Brownfield Land Release Fund projects
As part of the One Public Estate programme, funding has been granted for the demolition of Bartons Infants School, Bersted. We have also used the funds to prepare Bognor Regis arcade for future refurbishment and to deliver much needed housing.
The funding comes from the Brownfield Land Release Fund. This is a government scheme that gives councils money to help fix and prepare unused or abandoned land for development.
The funding helps pay for work such as knocking down old buildings, cleaning up pollution, and getting the site ready for building work to begin.
To find out more about Bartons Infants School and Bognor Regis Arcade, visit our One Public Estate pages.
3 Littlehampton priorities
The Growth Deal outlines a focus on town centre and seafront regeneration in order to encourage tourism, investment and employment in Littlehampton.
The county council and Arun District Council (ADC) are working together with partners to improve the route between the station and town centre and to uplift the riverside and seafront areas.
Littlehampton Town Centre Public Realm Improvements
The Littlehampton Town Centre Public Realm Improvements scheme (LHPRI) is one of Arun Growth Programme’s largest schemes. The project started in January 2022. The first 3 phases were completed in October 2023.
Phase 1 has delivered public space improvements to Terminus Road, from Littlehampton Railway Station to the High Street via Arundel Road, which was partly funded by the county council. Find information on all the phases.
The refreshed deal will focus on delivering phases 4 and 5 with the regeneration of Surrey Street, up to the Look and Sea Centre and the links with Pier Road and New Road, and the War Memorial roundabout on Beach Road.
Littlehampton Seafront Design Scheme
Alongside the LHPRI scheme, is the Littlehampton Seafront Design Scheme which seeks to attract and improve visitor experience. We have outlined £7.2m from the Levelling Up Fund (LUF) bid to redesign the main car park, improve public spaces and facilities and create event space.
The scheme is currently in construction with a focus on the area west of and including Banjo Road. To follow the latest updates on the scheme, visit ADC's seafront design scheme pages.
Littlehampton masterplan
The masterplan will explore options for key sites in and around the town centre and seafront to deliver mixed use, residential and commercial developments.
4 Strategic growth
The projects are complemented by several highways projects to support economic growth. This priority focuses on delivering key infrastructure projects across the district to support local strategic development sites.
Local Plan delivery
The county council, ADC and Coast2Capital (Local Enterprise Partnership) working together to upgrade the transport network. This will support the delivery of new homes and business sites.
A284 Lyminster Bypass
Supporting the delivery of new homes through the construction of a new bypass on the Lyminster road. This project opened to the public in May 2025.
A259 Littlehampton improvements
Upgrading single lanes to dual carriageway with foot and cycle paths on the A259 Littlehampton.
A29 realignment
Highway improvements through realignment of the road, connecting strategic sites on the A29 road.
A27 improvements
Improving the A27 and public transport is a key priority in the West Sussex Transport Plan. These changes aim to increase road capacity, improve reliability and safety, and help local businesses grow by attracting investment.
While major improvements to the A27 are not in place, the county council is still working with National Highways and local planning authorities. Together, they are making smaller improvements to the A27 as new developments are built.