Lineside, Littlehampton, East Sussex
The challenge
The property comprised a 30,000 sq. ft dilapidated industrial unit, an 11,000 sq. ft vacant industrial unit and five acres of undeveloped land with no vehicular access.
The site was a natural habitat for slow worms and lizards and part of a Roman settlement site, presenting ecological and archaeological issues.
The solution
The key to unlocking the site's potential was negotiating a new access to the undeveloped land, which Cuckfield Group did, from an adjoining industrial estate owned by a major pension fund.
Working with English Nature, a population assessment of lizards and slow worms was conducted, resulting in capture and relocation to other sites. A major site dig was undertaken, to locate Roman ruins.
A 22,000 sq. ft unit was built for Builder Center and the remaining land and buildings were sold to local companies.
The added value
The at-risk species were protected; Roman ditches were discovered and preserved.
The creation of the new road allowed the council to divert heavy industrial traffic away from residential areas, thereby improving the environment.
At the end of the project the site showed a significant uplift in value after all costs.