Plans for food kiosk at £3m town centre development site

Plans to install a new food kiosk at the site of a town centre development project have been recommended for approval, despite opposition.

Worthing Borough Council has applied to install the single-storey timber cabin in Montague Place, which is currently being converted into a green public space as part of the Montague Gardens project.

However, the plans have prompted backlash from The Worthing Society, which has argued the proposed concession unit is “very poor and utilitarian” and would set an “unfortunate precedent”.

A spokesperson for the heritage group said: “On balance, we consider this would result in a ‘watering down’ of the original idea to reinstate an open garden to reflect the historic character of Montague Gardens.

“In our view, buildings should not be encouraged here as they will detract from the newly reinstated central garden feature.”

The group added that there were already cafes in buildings opposite the proposed site, which could experience a loss in trade.

Two residents also submitted objections, warning the structure represented a material change from the design of Montague Gardens that had been previously consulted on.

The kiosk would be situated on land west of 35 Montague Street (Image: Google)

An operator for the 4.5m-wide kiosk has not yet been selected, but the unit is expected to sell food and ice cream, if approved.

Recommending the scheme for approval, planning officers said the temporary structure was small in scale compared the surrounding buildings.

In a report, officers concluded the kiosk would not compete with historic elements of the area and would “help to animate” the gardens.

They added that objections relating to trade competition with existing nearby cafes could not be considered as they are not material planning considerations.

If approved, the concession will be restricted to operating between 8am and 8pm.

A condition will also ban primary food cooking on the premises to prevent odours affecting residents living opposite the site.

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Work has already begun on the wider Montague Gardens scheme, which is costing more than £3 million.

The kiosk is not the only controversial element of the project, with residents previously branding the movement of a pedestrian crossing by “a few yards” to align with the development “ridiculous”.

The kiosk proposal will be considered by the Borough Council’s planning committee on April 22.

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