Landlink Progress Saltbox Employment Site for Enterprise Bognor Regis
The Enterprise Bognor Regis (EBR) zone, confirmed in Arun District Council’s 2018 Local Plan Review, identified three key sites for employment land supply at Oldlands Farm, Saltbox and the Rowan Way Caravan Park, for the benefit of local businesses and to attract new investors to Bognor Regis. Rolls Royce Motor Cars established their Technology & Logistics Centre on the Oldlands Farm site in 2016 and this was expanded in 2017, establishing EBR as a prime employment zone on the South Coast M27/A27 corridor.
Following planning consent in November 2019, construction on Phase 1 of the £34million, 17.5 acre Saltbox site began in August 2020 with a 44-week programme to deliver premises for Warburtons, Aldi and two drive throughs plus the infrastructure (access roads, drainage and utilities) for the whole site. With completion expected in Summer 2021, Phase 1 will deliver over 200 jobs. The developer, Landlink Estates, gave a tour of the construction site to fellow Bognor Regis Regeneration Board members including Bognor Regis Town Council and Metamorph Management in early November. This visit took place before the second lockdown and appropriate Covid measures were strictly observed.
Landlink Estates CEO, Paul Hanson, noted: “As long term stakeholders in Bognor Regis we are pleased to be Board members and support its work for regeneration, delivering projects which yield long term benefits and meet community needs. The development of the Saltbox site represents a significant investment, delivering modern, purpose-built employment space which will accelerate the creation of local jobs.”
The Board’s Chairman, Raof Daud, stated: “We are delighted to see this site coming forward to construction. The Board encourages our members to collaborate and be ambitious for Bognor Regis; Landlink Estates are showing confidence in Bognor Regis during challenging times. This commitment is a strong endorsement of the public/private partnership which makes the Board unique.”