Worthing Borough Council launches consultation on Decoy Farm plans

Years of work to make the “wasteland” at Decoy Farm, Worthing, fit for development has now been completed.

And Worthing Borough Council has now set its sights on turning the land into 18 business units with car parking to create more employment opportunities in the area.

The council secured almost £5 million of government funding to clear the seven-hectare site before it was ready to be developed.

Hundreds of snakes, lizards, mice and voles had to be relocated to other wildlife havens in the borough to prepare the way for the proposals.

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The council said the site, next to Worthing’s household waste recycling centre, is the last remaining large-scale brownfield with the potential for employment space available in the borough.

The first phase of development at the site, which is close to East Worthing railway station and bordering Sompting, would see the construction of a new entrance on Dominion Way and an inner access road around it to link Dominion Way to Deacon Way. 

But now Worthing Borough Council wants to hear the views of residents on the scheme before going further with the plans.

Councillor Martin McCabe, cabinet member for regeneration, said: "Decoy Farm has been an eyesore for many years. After intensive work to return the site to use we now have an opportunity to create more employment opportunities for our community and bring this area back to life.

"However, in the spirit of this council and our 'Big Listen' philosophy we want to be sure we are hearing what the community thinks first and I urge as many people as possible to take part in the consultation we are running on the proposals."

A new website has been built to give full details of the plans and a feedback form to allow people to give their views. Hard copies of the form can be obtained at Worthing Town Hall.

The website with feedback form can be found at decoyfarmworthing.co.uk/