The budget for a new garden in Worthing town centre has increased by £400,000 to more than £3 million.
Montague Place, which was part-pedestrianised during the pandemic, is set to get more tress, a playground, more seating and a performance area under the Montague Gardens scheme, which is due to start in the spring.
Last week, Worthing Borough Council’s cabinet approved increasing the budget using pooled business rates controlled by West Sussex County Council.
Council officers at the meeting calling it a new “people-centred” approach to urban design that would look to add a “myriad” of new features.
They said this would include a bespoke play area, improved seafront access, sustainable planting, 30 new trees, al fresco dining, a concessions kiosk, a living wall, more than 100 metres of new seating, a sun deck and performance area and a new “Instagram-able” Worthing sign.
A report presented to the committee said the scheme was inspired by the 19th century seaside gardens which originally occupied Montague Place, and that there would be an emphasis on increasing biodiversity on the site.
The report said preparation work for the scheme was nearing completion, with construction of Montague Gardens expected to finish in August 2026.
Cabinet member for regeneration Rita Garner (Lab, Tarring) said getting the final funding agreement with the county council was the “last piece of the puzzle” before work could start.
She said: “This is a really important project, it started with extensive community involvement and engagement
“I think this will make a real difference to the feel of the town centre and an important component of what will be a reimagined seafront as well.
“I very much look forward to seeing the physical information panels and other methods so we can really involve our residents and visitors, because there will be some disruption but lets show them what we’re aiming for in the future.
“I feel this will be a town centre that’s been designed by Worthing, for Worthing.”
Council Leader Sophie Cox (Lab, Castle) said it was “really exciting” to be getting to the construction phase of the scheme, saying it would add a “real heart” to the town.
An initial £200,000 budget funded through the Community Infrastructure Levy, was approved by the committee in 2021 to undertake phase-two main design works for the scheme.
A further budget of £2.7million was approved by the committee in September 2023, after the phase-two works were finished, with the recent increase bringing that total budget up to £3.1million.
The scheme is the third public realm improvement as part of the Adur and Worthing Growth Deal struck between Adur and Worthing councils and the county council in 2017.
The pedestrianisation of Portland Road and improvements to Railway Approach were the first two, with the deal also including £5million in funding from the West Sussex County Council Capital Programme.
