The Worthing area continues to struggle with industrial space at record scarcity levels as key potential sites continue to lie dormant.
Whilst a handful of local companies have been able to let the logistics sites they desperately need, for example the 11,650 sq ft Unit K, Downlands Business Park – now occupied by ball bearing specialist Spheric Trafalgar Ltd.
The greater Worthing region has the lowest vacancy rate for industrial stock in the south east at 2.4%, whilst key potential sites such as Teville Gate and the former Shoreham cement factory currently lie dormant. The South Downs National Park Authority recently claimed a proposed new IKEA development in Lancing would cause “significant harm” to the area’s views – even though the proposed site itself is not greenbelt land.
Most industrial space providers are doing very well from the situation, with the likes of the Riverside Industrial Estate, Littlehampton soon to be fully let – a series of successful lets in the last year creating a thriving trading community.
A dearth of local instructions has meant increased activity further afield, such as the letting of 3,200 sq ft goods yard in Holdenhurst Road, Bournemouth and a similar sized industrial unit in Petersfield.
Duncan Marsh, Business Space Partner for SHW said: “Provision for new commercial space has been consistently deprioritised to the point where the lack of space is driving businesses away. The situation needs to be addressed and key sites developed as soon as possible.”
