Grafton multi-storey car park, Worthing
Summary - about the site
We want to redevelop Grafton multi-storey car park and the land around it on Worthing seafront to help revitalise the area.
Replacing Grafton and some of the other unattractive buildings around it with a new development would breathe new life into both the Montague Street shopping area and our historic seafront, providing a key link between them.
We have been working towards that goal since late 2023 and have been considering a number of significant bids from potential partners, while the car park has continued to be in use.
However on 16th May 2025 we were forced to close Grafton with immediate effect so that we could carry out urgent investigation work because we were concerned that it could pose a risk to members of the public.
On this page we explain what we have done following the Grafton closure and why.
The closure
On 16th May 2025 we made the decision to close Grafton immediately so that we could carry out investigation work to assure us that the site was safe for the public to use.
We have been monitoring the condition of Grafton for a number of years because of its age and method of construction. The car park has required heavy investment just to keep it open and safe.
In recent years we've spent more than £2m on repairs and maintenance there. Full structural surveys are conducted every six months, along with more frequent visual inspections and strength checks.
Despite that work, sections of concrete that are exposed to the weather have continued to deteriorate to the point that we now believe there is a significant risk that falling debris inside the car park puts users in danger. That is why we immediately closed Grafton.
The main structure of the building remains sound, and the bowling alley and Level 1 remain open, as do all adjacent shops.
We're now waiting for a new detailed analysis of the car park to be done by expert engineers to determine how best we can ensure that Grafton is safe to use.
We've been planning to redevelop the site for many years but we did not expect to have to close it when we did. The potential risk to users of the car park meant that we had to act immediately. The safety of the public is our priority.
Photos: Grafton multi-storey car park
What we've done
We've closed Grafton to keep people safe while we carry out the investigation work. We've also put up signs giving the details of our nearby multi-storeys for motorists looking for somewhere to park.
The residents of Knightsbridge House, which connects to Grafton, have a private car park that can only be accessed through the multi-storey. We've spoken to each of those residents one by one to explain why we needed to close Grafton and to offer them free alternative spaces nearby.
We've also spoken to town centre businesses and business groups about the need to close the car park.
Our expert structural engineers, HOP Consulting, have examined Hollywood Bowl and the adjacent shops and confirmed that, unlike the car park, there is no need for us to take any immediate action there and that they are safe to remain open to the public.
What we're doing
We understand the potential for disruption the closure could bring to Knightsbridge House residents and businesses across the town centre so we're doing all we can to help them.
There are more than 1,000 parking spaces available across the area, with the majority being in our Buckingham Road, Civic Quarter and High Street multi-storey car parks. There are also spaces at our High Street, Beach House, Lyndhurst Road and Brooklands surface car parks. See:
To try to make sure that people who would otherwise use Grafton are aware of them, we'll be sharing more information about our multi-storey car parks on our Facebook channels:
We're also working with partners to find ways to make it easier for people to come into the town centre to shop or to work, including discussing services and key routes with the bus companies.
At the same time as this, we're of course liaising with expert structural engineers about the condition of Grafton and what can be done to allow it to be reopened safely.
The long-term future of the site
Grafton has been important for the town centre since it was built in 1960 but it is ageing and run-down - and needs a large amount of investment just to keep it in use.
The site is listed in our local plan as being suitable for redevelopment to create around 150 homes and some form of commercial use. That could mean new shops and businesses plus potential new leisure facilities.
As there is very little space in the borough to build on, we need to maximise the use of brownfield sites like Grafton to create the extra homes our residents need, so that we can reduce the risk of our greenfield sites like Chatsmore Farm being targeted by developers.
The Grafton site includes the 440-space car park, Hollywood Bowl bowling alley, the Level 1 food and drink area, a small number of shops in Montague Street and access roads to neighbouring buildings, covering roughly the area of a football pitch. We've also bought the leases to the shops from Clarks to Argos on the southern side of Montague Street to make it easier to develop the whole site.
We created a prospectus to find out what developers think they could do with the land to benefit our community the most and a string of national companies have contacted us to register their interest in being involved.
We're looking for someone that shares our vision of high-quality, highly-sustainable homes, attractive green areas and leisure attractions, bringing benefits for all of our residents and visitors.
The closure of Grafton as a car park has accelerated the need for us to find a partner for this project, so we are considering the options available.
Frequently asked questions - FAQs
Why has the Grafton multi-storey car park been closed?
We've closed Grafton so that we can carry out urgent safety work. The car park is over 60 years old and recent inspections have revealed that some sections of the concrete floors are in a poorer condition than expected. For that reason, we need to carry out urgent investigation work and review the findings to determine how best to ensure that Grafton is safe to use.
Was the closure sudden or planned?
We've been planning to redevelop the site for many years but we did not expect to have to close it when we did. The potential risk to users of the car park meant that we had to act immediately. The safety of the public is our priority.
Can you be certain that the car park won't collapse?
Yes. The issue at Grafton involves the car park's levels, not the overall structure of the building.
Grafton has a steel frame which is encased in concrete. The frame supports floors of precast high alumina cement beams. High alumina cement was commonly used in construction in the 1960s but it was later discovered that over time the cement could react with moisture and weaken.
It is this weakening in the floor beams that we're concerned about, because when the cement weakens it can crumble and fall off. The frame of the building is not at risk because it involves a different construction method.
Can we see the report that led to the closure?
The reports were discussed at the June meeting of our joint strategic committee. You can read them under item 5 on the agenda here:
Is there a danger to the public or nearby buildings?
Public safety is the top priority, and the decision to close was made based on advice from independent consulting structural engineers to prevent any potential risk to people using it. We've had confirmation there is no danger to the main structure of the car park itself, Hollywood Bowl, Level 1, or any other nearby shops or flats.
Has any concrete already fallen from Grafton? Was anyone or anything struck by it?
A number of pieces of concrete have broken off inside Grafton and been removed. There have been no reports of anyone being injured or any vehicles being damaged.
How long has there been a risk of concrete falling from Grafton?
We have been monitoring the condition of Grafton for a number of years because of its age and method of construction. However the condition has now deteriorated to the point that we now believe there is an increased risk that falling debris inside the car park puts users in danger. That is why we immediately closed Grafton while we carry out urgent investigatory work.
Why is the concrete failing?
Grafton has a steel frame which is encased in concrete. The frame supports floors of precast high alumina cement beams. High alumina cement was commonly used in construction in the 1960s but it was later discovered that over time the cement could react with moisture and weaken.
It is this weakening in the floor beams that we're concerned about, because when the cement weakens it can crumble and fall off. The frame of the building is not at risk because it does not feature that type of cement.
Due to Grafton's seafront location, the multi-storey car park levels are exposed to moisture every day, so have gradually weakened over time.
How long will the car park remain closed?
The car park will remain closed while urgent investigation work is carried out and the findings are reviewed to determine the best course of action to ensure the safety of the public. We don't have a timescale for this but expect it to be a matter of months rather than weeks. We will not reopen Grafton until we are satisfied that it is safe for people to use it.
Are the other multi-storey car parks experiencing the same issues?
No. The Grafton multi-storey car park is in a particularly deteriorated state. Regular inspections of our other sites confirm their structural integrity and safety.
What is being done to address the structural issues?
The car park has required heavy investment just to keep it open and safe. In recent years we've spent more than £2m on repairs and maintenance there. Full structural surveys are conducted every six months, along with more frequent visual inspections and strength checks.
We're now waiting for a new detailed analysis of the car park to be done by expert structural engineers to determine how best we can ensure that Grafton is safe to use.
Will there be a shortage of parking in Worthing town centre?
We don't anticipate there will be an immediate shortfall of parking spaces. There are still well over 1,000 parking spaces available across other multi-storey car parks in the area, including Buckingham Road, Civic Quarter and High Street as well as spaces across our surface car parks. The refurbishment of Buckingham Road car park and the new Civic Quarter car park next to the Worthing Integrated Care Centre (WICC) were expected to provide sufficient alternative capacity for Grafton's eventual closure. See:
How will you manage the impact of the closure of both Grafton and the High Street multi-storey car park for a fortnight from 23rd June 2025?
The planned two-week closure of High Street multi-storey car park combined with the emergency closure of Grafton on safety grounds will lead to a short-term but significant reduction in the number of available parking spaces in the town.
In preparation for that we're working with partners to explore options to minimise disruption to travel into the town centre, including discussing services and key routes with the bus companies. We'll also be increasing our publicity about our other available car parks including our Buckingham Road and Civic Quarter multi-storey sites.
Over the coming weeks we'll be in regular contact with businesses and business groups in the town to listen to what they say and work with them to tackle the short-term issue while Grafton is assessed by structural engineers.
We understand the impact that this disruption may cause shoppers, visitors and businesses but the safety of everyone who uses the car park has to be our priority. We're grateful to everyone for their patience while we work through these issues.
What are the long-term plans for the Grafton site?
We're actively progressing in our work to find a partner to redevelop the site. The long-term vision is to demolish the car park and transform the area to revitalise the Montague Street shopping area and the seafront. Plans include creating around 150 new homes, modern commercial spaces, and attractive green areas, aiming to provide a key link between the town centre and the seafront. The decision to market the site for redevelopment was agreed by members in November 2023 and that process is continuing.
How is the council supporting local businesses and residents affected by the closure?
We are engaging with town centre businesses and have organised a series of meetings to listen to their concerns and provide advice and information. Alternative parking spaces have also been identified for residents of Knightsbridge House, the adjacent apartment complex, while a long-term solution is agreed upon.
How much was the Grafton forecast to generate in the current financial year if it had been open as normal?
Our modelling led to us forecasting that Grafton would generate a surplus of around £420,000 this financial year. That figure is based on the number of visitors in previous years. However its closure does not mean that we would lose that income from parking as visitors will still be able to use the many other spaces available across the town centre. Over the weekend our other car parks were busier but not at capacity. We'll monitor that over the coming weeks while we look into whether there is a need for additional parking capacity in the short term and where this could be located.
Enquiries
For any enquiries about Grafton multi-storey car park you can contact:
Page last updated: 09 June 2025