Work on Montague Gardens in Worthing due to start later this spring

Released: Tuesday, 11 February 2025

Work on Montague Gardens in Worthing - our new green space that links the town to the sea - is due to start later this spring, after councillors finalised funding for the project.

Last year we revealed the final plans for the vibrant and inclusive new space, which was designed in collaboration with the community and local businesses.

Residents and visitors will be greeted at the north end of the gardens with a stand-out Worthing place sign, a green living wall and a performance/sundeck area.

Plans for the site also include the replacement of tarmac with attractive paving, 30 new trees, drought-resistant planting, a lawn area and sociable seating areas for residents to connect with each other and with nature.

Café culture will be kept alive with dedicated spaces for businesses to have outdoor seating. A new hospitality kiosk will be built for vendors to serve coffee or ice-cream from.

Younger children will benefit from a new play area that celebrates Worthing's seaside heritage and highlights kelp restoration. There will be information boards on the work to restore natural kelp forests as well as tactile fixed play equipment that lets children climb freely and use their imagination.

At a meeting of the Joint Strategic Committee, councillors formally agreed to collaborate with West Sussex County Council on funding for the project.

The works will cost £3.1m and will be funded by £2.7m from our Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) Strategic Fund, which is made up of payments made by developers building in the local area, and £400,000 of pooled business rates agreed with West Sussex County Council.

Montague Gardens will become the third public realm regeneration project within the current Worthing Growth Deal - a partnership between us and the county council.

We'll keep you updated about the project, as well as our plans to work with the community to create a blueprint so we can together safeguard the pier, the lido and other key heritage sites along our coastline, to ensure future generations can continue to enjoy these assets for the next 25 years and beyond.