Lancing Village Centre
2026 public consultation: have your say (and next steps / timeline)
The second consultation on the Lancing Public Realm Improvements is now live. We are seeking your thoughts on the detailed design for North Farm Road and the proposed pocket park.
Based on feedback received from the community in the last consultation, the design incorporates improved lighting, materiality and seating considerations.
Image: North Farm Road - proposed design and layout (2026)
The consultation will run throughout June with in person events planned:
- 12th June 2026: Lancing Parish and South Street
- 16th June 2026: Queens Parade and Lancing Station
- 23rd June 2026: Beach Green
The consultation will close on Sunday 19th July 2026 with the feedback analysed over the summer before a formal decision on the project is communicated in Autumn 2026.
To have your say please complete the form below:
See also:
About Lancing
Lancing has a proud history and is traditionally known as a centre for retreat, care and culture.
The culture of caring continues today with local community groups such as Keep Lancing Lovely and Men in Sheds, spaces such as the Parish Halls, Chesham House and Fabric, and the community spirited businesses on the high street and in the Lancing Business Park.
Lancing has a strong 'village' identity with people experiencing a stronger sense of belonging than in other parts of England. At the same time local people are experiencing more challenges in relation to housing, cost of living and health than in neighbouring areas.
In 2023, a participative programme called Lancing Now and Into the Future was delivered to better understand these issues. Together with local people, a set of commitments and aspirations was developed to guide future improvements to Lancing's places, community and environment.
One of these priorities is to explore public realm improvements and more pedestrian-friendly spaces in Lancing Village Centre which aim to support local businesses, create greener spaces, encourage people to stay local, and improve air quality and wellbeing.
The aspiration for Lancing Public Realm Improvements, being led by Adur District Council is to create a vibrant, green space reflective of a pocket park which creates a space safe for dwelling, improving biodiversity and environmental impacts whilst also providing an opportunity to improve traffic calming and public safety. The scheme will be funded through external resources and will act as a catalyst to deliver wider interventions in the village centre.
The funds come from a Growth Deal partnership with West Sussex County Council, which can only be used for capital projects that support the local economy, such as permanent improvements to public spaces and infrastructure. They cannot be used for routine maintenance (eg fixing potholes), anti-social behaviour work, waste clearance, housing or park improvements outside the project area.
Based on the work undertaken through Lancing Now and Into the Future, the need depicted the importance of improving the public realm within the key economic zone of Lancing Village Centre. It is hoped that this project will act as a catalyst to drive future investment into Lancing.
Lancing Village Centre Public Realm Improvement scheme objectives:
- Establishing a new 'green' destination, arrival zone and meeting point
- Ability to design inclusive and welcoming spaces
- Encourage sustainable travel options
- Responding to key stakeholders through direct consultation
- Improving place activation by providing improved outdoor spaces
Lancing pocket park scheme
The proposed project design for North Farm Road went through public engagement in the Summer of 2025 with pop up engagement sessions, business engagement and an online consultation process.
The images below show the proposed scheme and highlight the key features:
- Making pedestrians the priority: Increasing the public bridleway to improve accessibility and crucially safety both vehicular and a widened public arena.
- Enhance connectivity: Regenerating North Farm Road and Penstone Park junctions will improve
east-west connections through the village centre, complementing the existing nodes of public space along North Road. - Activate nodes of public realm: The introduction of new seating and an informal play area will create an inviting atmosphere encouraging residents and visitors to gather and spend more time in the village centre.
- Bring nature to urban spaces: The inclusion of new trees and planting beds will bring nature to the residents' doorstep and improve carbon reduction in key locations and community well-being. In addition, and in collaboration with Lancing Parish to support village planters, the new planting areas will attract new wildlife to the area, improving biodiversity.
The project will deliver support to the local economy through creating a better and more attractive environment for residents, shoppers, businesses and visitors whilst also adhering to carbon reduction objectives.
Photo: North Farm Road - current layout and design plan
Images: North Farm Road - proposed design and layout (2026)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the project
General Project Overview
The proposed project to improve Lancing Public Realm was born from a longstanding consultation with the Lancing community in 2022 during which the desire to improve public realm and incorporate pedestrianisation was identified as a key desirable for the area.
Since then Adur District Council has sought to assimilate funding and design potential areas that would benefit from such an improvement and most recently proposed the pocket park concept for Penstone Park and North Farm Road in 2025.
Following the first round of engagement, the project has deviated with the focus now being a refined North Farm Road proposal which is the subject of further engagement to test the design with the community at large.
What is the Lancing Public Realm Improvement project?
Public realm projects aim to enhance the quality, appearance, and functionality of key public spaces within Lancing Village Centre. This includes improving pedestrian areas, updating street furniture, enhancing green spaces, and improving connectivity and accessibility.
Why is this work being considered?
Adur District Council is mindful to ensure public realm investment is prioritised across the District with previous investments seen in East Street, Shoreham, and Southwick Square. Proposed improvements for Lancing Village Centre aim to provide an attractive, welcoming, and safe place for residents, shoppers, and visitors. The goal is to support local businesses, encourage footfall, and improve the overall experience of Lancing.
Which areas of Lancing are included in the project?
The primary focus area following feedback from a public consultation in 2024 is that of North Farm Road, Lancing. The proposal is in its second stage of design and will then be further consulted on to seek public opinions.
Who is responsible for delivering this project?
This project is led by Adur District Council in partnership with West Sussex County Council (as the highways authority) and funded through the Adur Growth Deal.
Why is this being considered when there are other, more pressing issues to deal with?
Funding for the scheme is from a Growth Deal partnership with West Sussex County Council. The funding can only be used for improvements to public spaces and infrastructure. The funds cannot be used for routine maintenance (eg fixing potholes), anti-social behaviour work, waste clearance, housing or park improvements outside the project area.
- See: Growth Deals
Design and Features
What are the objectives of this scheme?
The main objectives of this proposed investment for Lancing are to:
- Establish a new vibrant green pocket park
- Introduce a new inclusive and welcoming space
- Encourage sustainable travel options
- And to improve biodiversity and reduce environmental impact
What changes are you making to account for the feedback already shared with you regarding concerns and queries about the proposed scheme?
The second stage of design has been developed to account for feedback including safety, lighting and street furniture locations.
Will more trees be planted?
Yes, enhancing green infrastructure is a key component. The project aims to increase the number of trees and planting areas where feasible, provided they do not conflict with essential underground utilities.
Who will maintain the trees?
Adur District Council.
When will a decision be made on if Lancing will have this investment and create a pocket park?
The final design is informed by public consultations, feedback from local stakeholders, technical feasibility studies, and expert urban design principles.
Our online consultation survey is now live and running until the 16th July 2026 for your feedback.
Following the consultation period the results will be analysed over the summer for a final decision to be made in September.
- See: Consultation (above)
Who can I contact with questions or concerns regarding public realm work for Lancing?
The Neighbourhood Team can be contacted with any queries regarding Lancing public realm:
What will happen if the majority of feedback received is negative?
The project will be paused with the money reinvested into other schemes within the Adur Growth Deal which could include cycle lane improvements and Social Service infrastructure improvements across Adur and/or leisure improvements in Southwick.
When will the construction work start and finish?
A detailed timeline will be published following the finalisation of designs and contractor procurement. Typically, a phased approach is used to minimise disruption. Initial dates will be widely communicated once confirmed.
How long will the disruption last?
Disruption will be managed through careful planning and phasing. The project duration depends on its scope, but every effort will be made to maintain access and minimise inconvenience to businesses and residents throughout the construction period.
Will the work affect traffic and parking?
Yes, some temporary traffic management measures, including potential road closures or diversions, and temporary changes to parking availability will be necessary during different construction phases. Clear signage and advance warnings will be provided.
Will local businesses remain open during the works?
Absolutely. Maintaining access and supporting local businesses is a top priority. Pedestrian access to shops and businesses will be maintained throughout the construction period.
About the 2025 public consultation
Summer 2025 saw the launch of our consultation on public realm proposals for Lancing. The consultation explored two schemes: one looking at Penstone Park and making this one way, and another looking at the above proposals for North Farm Road.
The consultation ran until the 3rd August 2025 with an online survey, and six pop-up engagement events held in Lancing, to consult with local residents about the ideas. The online survey received 272 responses with more than 70 people attending the pop-up events.
The council also attended many of the businesses along North Road for their thoughts and comments on the proposals.
We received a lot of feedback from the public, which was analysed in the summer:
Penstone Park: The feedback for a proposed one way system here raised a number of concerns, with 61% of respondents not in favour of this scheme. In October 2025 the decision was made not to pursue this aspect of the scheme and was communicated via the council's social media channels.
North Farm Road: The North Farm Road scheme received a varied response but with 57% of respondents feeling positive about the scheme and the council feeling other feedback would be addressed at the detailed design phase, it was agreed in October 2025 to progress to the next stage. The council sought approval for Growth Board funding to enable progression with the North Farm Road pocket park and to secure investment for Lancing, following previous public realm investments in Shoreham East Street and Southwick Square. These funds, as outlined above, can only be used for new capital projects, rather than maintenance.
Want to know more?
If you would like to find out more about the project please email:
- neighbourhood@adur-worthing.gov.uk
with "Lancing Village Centre" in the subject line
Need assistance with this service?
Get in touch:
Place & Economy Team
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Page last updated: 18 June 2026