Shops could get new lease of life with planning shake-up

Arun District Council wants to create a local development order for the central shopping area.

This will allow property owners more leeway than usual planning rules to give the shops a new lease of life.

One example would be to allow the temporary change of use of empty premises for a farmers' market for up to a year.

The order would also allow minor changes in street furniture, signage and advertising that directly relate to the change of use.

It would remove the need for the owners to pay for a planning application to be prepared and the wait, probably for at least six weeks, for the council to decide it.

Karl Roberts, who heads Arun's planning department, said: "Given the current economic downturn and the loss of certain retail outlets, it is considered this local development order would allow the existing vitality and viability of town centres to continue by helping to maintain occupancy of key frontages.

"There are very few of these orders in place around the country. So Bognor would be at the forefront."

Bognor Regis Chamber of Commerce president and chairman Nick Stuart-Nicolson said: "This is a nice initiative which will do some good for shops which are empty.

"We don't want to see empty shops just standing there. But there would have to be safeguards.

"We don't suddenly want to see a crop of farmers' markets appear. Nor do we want uses, even temporary ones, which downgrade the town centre.