Worthing Observation Wheel

Paul Basham Associates were approached by De-Koning Leisure Group Limited to support a full planning application for the erection of a 46m tall observation wheel on Worthing seafront.

De-Koning Leisure Group Limited instructed us to assist with the Transport Planning support required for the full planning application for the erection of a temporary 46m observation wheel in Worthing. The Transport Statement focused on the accessibility of the site, including vehicle and cycle parking provision.

Our initial approach was to undertake a site visit to establish the location and extent of the development and to evaluate the accessibility of the site, together with reviewing the capacity of the town centre car parks to accommodate any potential increase in vehicle movements to the area associated with the wheel. Taking into account traffic and highway conditions on Marine Parade, together with our local knowledge of the area we completed a Transport Statement to support the planning application which also concluded that the current parking provision within the town was sufficient to accommodate the demand for this new attraction. We presented arguments to help the local authority understand that the majority of trips to the wheel would be pass-by, linked or diverted trips and as such not all trips would be wholly new to the network with the facility instead providing another attraction for visitors and residents of Worthing.

Focusing on site accessibility and linked trips to the attraction we could demonstrate that the Worthing Observation Wheel was highly accessible by non-car modes and would have an neligible impact on the local highway network.

The scheme was swiftly granted planning permission in April 2019, only 2 months from validation, and construction was completed by the end of July, ready for the busy summer period for 2019. It proved to be a major attraction to Worthing’s seafront for both visitors and local residents, which generated income for the council as well as increasing footfall to the area, however, the wheel was not renewed for the 2022 season and we are therefore looking forward to seeing what may take its place.