Plans to convert former Worthing school building into offices rejected

Plans to change the use of a former school building in Worthing into offices have been refused by the borough council.

The application sought permission to convert Provident House on Grafton Road for commercial, business and service use. The Victorian building, originally constructed around 1892 as a soup kitchen, has a long history of civic use and was most recently occupied by a school which closed in 2020. It has remained vacant since, with the applicant stating that educational use was no longer viable due to a lack of demand.

However, the council determined that the proposal did not provide sufficient evidence to justify the loss of a community facility. The property had previously been marketed and received interest from both a nursery operator and a solicitor, with the latter offer accepted. The council noted that no adequate explanation was given as to why the nursery proposal was not pursued.

In its decision, the council concluded that the lack of justification would result in unacceptable harm to the availability of community premises in the borough. Provident House is locally listed and situated within the Chapel Road Conservation Area, with a blue plaque marking its historical significance.