Major boost for Shoreham as landmark office block nearly complete

The countdown is on to the opening of a new Adur District Council-funded office block which will generate a return to the local authority while bringing hundreds of jobs to the heart of Shoreham.

In a pioneering move which will bring noticeable benefits to the local economy, the local authority is creating a new £9.5 million contemporary looking development on the former Civic Centre car park in Ham Road.

It will then lease the four-storey building to growing communications company Focus Group, allowing it to relocate from its current base in Southwick.

The development is the one of a number proposed for Shoreham town centre which will see hundreds of new homes, along with work space and improved riverside routes for pedestrians and cyclists created along the western harbour arm.

With the bulk of the work on the new office block now complete, Council leaders joined representatives from Focus and the project team for a tour around the striking new building.

Councillor Neil Parkin, Leader of Adur District Council, said: “I am totally staggered at the quality of this new landmark building for Shoreham which has sprung up in just a matter of months.

“Very soon the transformation of an ugly tarmac strip for council workers cars into a head office for a growing national company will be complete.

“This is a prime example of how as a local authority we can use our assets for the greater good. The new building itself not only generates an income for the taxpayer but also creates jobs for local residents and generating business for local traders.

“The project team involved in this construction have done an excellent job and I look forward to the work being completed in just a few weeks.”

The development will bring back into use the car park site which has been largely vacant since the Civic Centre closed in 2013.

Work started on site a year ago and since then teams have created a striking brick and bronze cladded building.

Inside, the open plan office will have a contemporary feel, with top-of-the-range internet connections and a roof terrace just some of the perks for workers.

The project, which has been supported by £1.8 million of funding from the Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership and is being overseen by Willmott Dixon, will be complete by the end of April.

Focus will then move into the office block by summer, investing a major six figure sum to transform the building into a thriving new headquarters.

The move will ensure the retention of 250 jobs in the area while allowing it to continue to grow - with hopes of a further 150 to 200 posts created in the first 18 months of occupation.

Ralph Gilbert, of Focus Group, said: “We are all really excited that after many months of waiting we are soon to move into our new home four weeks ahead of schedule.

“We want to make this building one of the best offices in the region so that we can attract the best staff while showcasing some of the groundbreaking technology which we advocate and install for firms across the UK.”

Russell Miller, Director of Delivery at Willmott Dixon commented: “This project has been a valuable investment for the local community, creating local jobs and regenerating a large part of the town centre. Together, we have made a positive impact on the local community, leaving behind a legacy that we call be proud of.”