Bognor Regis Esplanade Public Realm Improvements

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The public realm works along Bognor Regis Esplanade are part of the wider Arun Growth Programme, which is the mechanism for delivering Arun Growth Deal. The Growth Deal was signed in 2018, as a joint, five-year commitment between Arun District Council (ADC) and West Sussex County Council (WSCC). The councils work together to decide priorities for the area and pool resources to deliver sustainable economic growth in the area. The deal provides opportunities to attract funding, build new homes and infrastructure, and generate employment.

The Growth Deal will be refreshed during 2025 to ensure it continues to best serve population needs in Arun. It is important to note that live projects from the initial growth deal, including this project, will continue until completion.

The Esplanade public realm improvements, which extends from Lennox Street to Clarence Road, will deliver:

• Improved pedestrian and disabled access between the Esplanade and the seafront, including an additional crossing facility on the west side of the project
• A walkway between parked cars and the sea wall
• A decrease to the speed limit to 20mph and new traffic calming features to improve safety
• Increased number of plants
• Additional seating and litter bin.

On the 23rd May 2024, WSCC published a Key Decision approving detailed design and the commencement of the procurement process, and allocating £1.369 million of capital funds to the project's delivery. Please click the link (opens in a new tab) to view the Key Decision. Landbuild Ltd have now been appointed as the contractor for these works which was also published in a Key Decision (opens in a new tab). To read more about the works in our press release, please click the link (opens in a new tab). The works commenced on 4th November 2024 and are due to complete in early April 2025.

These works are a fundamental part of the town’s seafront regeneration plans to create an exciting and vibrant visitor destination. The wider vision for this area includes the adjacent Place St Maur (opens in a new tab) completed project and the renovation of Alexander Theatre (opens in a new tab), Bognor Regis Arcade regeneration (opens in a new tab), the future development of the former Brewers Fayre site and the future Premier Inn (opens in a new tab). A visual of the wider seafront regeneration is available at the bottom right hand side of your screen.

Resurfacing

Night time resurfacing works will commence on the night of 10th March and continue for the following four nights. These works will be undertaken within a full closure of the road, typically 8pm to 4am. Subject to weather, the actual time on site and traffic management restrictions may alter on each day to suit the works to be completed and weather conditions.

The Esplanade route will be re-opened during the day, although preparatory works may still be taking place ahead of the night works which require lane closures and temporary traffic lights.

During the resurfacing, all vehicles must be removed from the Esplanade and parked elsewhere. Please use alternative options such as the Regis Centre Car Park.

Outline of Plans

The image below shows three focus areas from the scheme - each box outlined has a respective artist impression below. For context, a before and after image has been provided of each view point.

Overview:

Location 1:

A raised crossing will be introduced to slow traffic and rain gardens will be introduced to improve drainage.Location 2:

Rain gardens will be introduced to improve drainage and a footway will be introduced between cars parking on the south side of the road and the sea wall to improve pedestrian safety.

The central crossing will host a raised table to slow traffic and improve safety for pedestrians.

Location 3:

More rain gardens will be introduced to improve drainage and the highway will be resurfaced across the whole project.

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Weekly Updates from Landbuild

Last updated 10th March 2025

Thank you for your patience during the works - two-way traffic lights are in place and traffic is flowing well.

The pedestrian crossing to the promenade from the Regis centre is open but the pedestrian crossing at Clarence Road is closed.

Works completed last week:
Promenade Bar

• New crossing point remained closed for safety.
• The footway between the Promenade Bar and the Place St Maur central crossing was planed out and resurfaced.
• Installation of new coping bricks continued.
• Essential drainage works within the carriageway continued.

Clarence Road junction - northern side

• Planing works started.

Clarence Road junction - southern side

• The pedestrian crossing remained closed, with an uncontrolled crossing point opened.

This week:

• Continuation of coping brick installation.
• Continuation of flint wall construction along the wing walls at the Regis centre crossing.
• Trenching works across the carriageway for essential drainage repairs continue.
• Resurfacing works on the northern footway between the Place St Maur central crossing and Clarence Road. Whilst these works are being carried out, the footway sections will be closed to pedestrians. Crossing points will be open on each end of the works.
  
• Resurfacing of the carriageway commences. The road will be closed from the junction of Albert Road to Lennox Street between 8pm and 6am. Please see the 'resurfacing' section further up this page for more information.
  

We remain committed to ensuring the works are carried out safely and with minimal disruption. Thank you for your continued cooperation.

Alternate formats and accessibility

If you require any of the information for this project in an alternative format, please contact us on 01243 777100 or email WestSussexOPE@westsussex.gov.uk. If you are deaf or hard of hearing and have an NGT texting app installed on your computer, laptop or smartphone, you can contact us on 18001 01243 777100.

Please note, you can use the Google Translate function to access this project in a range of different languages. The Google Translate widget can be found at the top left-hand side of the project page, where it sits just above the black West Sussex County Council ribbon.