Buckingham Park

ECE Planning

ECE Planning acted on behalf of Adur District Council to secure full planning permission for the phased redevelopment of the sports pavilion and café within Buckingham Park. The approved scheme involves the demolition of outdated, inaccessible buildings and their replacement with a modern, sustainable facility incorporating a new café, changing rooms, public toilets, and enhanced landscaping, delivered across two phases.

A central aspect of ECE Planning’s role was early and sustained community engagement. This included targeted consultation with local residents and sports user groups—such as football, cricket and rugby clubs—to ensure the proposals responded to local needs. Engagement also addressed concerns raised by Sport England regarding the temporary loss of changing facilities, with a clear phasing strategy and provision of alternative temporary facilities securing their support.

Pre-application discussions with officers at Adur District Council informed the scheme’s design parameters and application structure. ECE Planning led the project management of the consultant team and took direct responsibility for the Planning Statement and Statement of Community Involvement. Other technical reports, including the Sustainability Statement, Drainage Strategy, and Ecological Appraisal, were prepared by specialist third-party consultants.

Close coordination between ECE Planning, the project architect and technical specialists ensured a comprehensive submission that addressed design, access, ecology, and drainage. Following submission, ECE Planning led discussions with the Council to resolve minor design matters and conditions to ensure compliance with planning policy and timely determination.

The application was approved in March 2024 and represents a community-led proposal delivering high-quality, accessible recreational infrastructure, aligned with the Council’s sustainability and inclusivity objectives.

ECE Architecture