Worthing seafront observation wheel recommended for three-year return

Plans to bring the Worthing seafront observation wheel back for a three-year run have been recommended for approval by Worthing Borough Council.

The 44-metre-high wheel, which operated for three months during summer 2024, could return annually from March to November until 2028. A planning application submitted by City Observations Limited proposes reinstating the attraction opposite Montague Place on the town’s promenade. The council’s planning committee report states that previous approvals for similar structures at the same location provide a strong precedent for allowing the wheel to return.

According to the report, earlier permissions were granted for observation wheels of varying sizes - 33 metres, 44 metres and 46 metres - demonstrating established acceptance of such a development. The council considered the visual and privacy impacts of the wheel to be minimal due to its open design and distance from residential properties. While concerns had previously been raised about potential noise from accompanying rides, no relevant objections were received for this latest application.

The site lies within a conservation area and near heritage buildings, but the report concludes that the benefits of increased visitor activity outweigh any limited visual harm. A final decision on the planning application is expected to be made at the council meeting on Wednesday, 26 March. If approved, the wheel would become a regular seasonal feature on the Worthing seafront.