Adur District Council has unanimously given its backing to a multi-million pound plan to revamp a Shoreham yacht club and open up the riverside to the public.

With progress to transform River Adur's Western Harbour Arm moving forward, Sussex Yacht Club (SYC) applied for permission to create a new premises in Brighton Road.

The result will see the riverside opened up to the wider public, flood defences improved and lead to the creation of pedestrian and cycle access along the southern section of the A259 coast road for the first time.

Plans were unanimously approved by the council's planning committee at a meeting in the Shoreham Centre this week, subject to a number of conditions being met.

Councillor Carol Albury, chairman of the planning committee, said: "These are exciting plans which first and foremost will see a stunning new building created for the members of the Sussex Yacht Club.

"Committee members were unanimous in the view that the proposal will go beyond a recreational use; it will have a big impact on the wider community too with the improved transport links and new riverside public space a major boost to the area."

The approved plans are part of a wider project to revamp the Brighton Road site and surrounding area.

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In recent years, Adur District Council has been driving forward a renaissance of Shoreham Harbour, transforming industrial units into new homes and workspaces with an expansive waterfront promenade.

At the same time, the Environment Agency is installing more than seven kilometres of tidal walls defences on the River Adur, reducing the risk of flooding to thousands of residential and business properties in Shoreham and Lancing.

However, one of the obstacles in delivering this has been the SYC site, which is regarded as a key weakness.

To reduce the risk of flooding to the town and encourage private investment in the area, the Council struck a deal with the club - with the local authority buying some of the land and the proceeds being used by SYC to construct a new clubhouse.

The approved proposal will see the current building demolished. The site will then be reconfigured, with the yacht club creating a new headquarters opposite the petrol station. A car park and workshops will be built at the western end.

Once the new building is finished, the Council will build new flood defences along with a new cycle and pedestrian route.

Councillor Neil Parkin, Leader of Adur District Council, said:"I'm delighted we have been able to work with Sussex Yacht Club, the wider community and partners to bring forward the first stage of this development.

"Not only does it feed into our wider vision of regenerating the harbour arm but it will plug the gap in the flood defences and open up the southern section of the coast road to cyclists and pedestrians.

"I look forward to seeing construction work progress in the coming months and am certain that, when complete, the project will have a tremendous impact on the thousands of residents and visitors to our district."

Terry Kinch, Sussex Yacht Club Commodore, said: "We are delighted with the outcome of the planning committee meeting and look forward to continuing our close working partnership with Adur District Council to achieve both our new clubhouse and the new pedestrian/cycleway and flood defence for Shoreham town.

"The club will display regular updates on our noticeboards in our entrance and we welcome any member of the public popping in to view these or to enquire should they wish further information on the whole project."

(MH)