Briefing Sheet: The Future of Waterloo Square Open Meeting for Residents, Independent Businesses, and Community Groups

Venue: The 381 RAFA Club, Waterloo Square.

1. The Purpose of This Meeting 

We are at a critical turning point for Waterloo Square. With major changes happening on our doorstep, we have a unique opportunity to unite as a "micro-neighbourhood" to protect our heritage, boost our local economy, and take control of the square’s future. This meeting will discuss our strategy to save the historic Methodist Church from private development and how we can form a powerful, unified voice to influence local councils and developers.

2. The Current Situation 

Waterloo Square is currently facing two major property developments that will redefine the area:

• The Former Beach Hotel & 2-4 Waterloo Square: Following the 2016 fire, the derelict "gap in the teeth" on the seafront is finally seeing action. In April 2025, Arun District Council (ADC) moved to purchase the site to clear it to "bare flatted land," with plans to use Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers if necessary. Current proposals for the site include a mixed-use building featuring 9 luxury residential apartments and ground-floor commercial space. This follows a recent £1.3 million regeneration of the Bognor Regis Esplanade directly in front of the square.

• The Former Methodist Church: This centenary building is currently on the market for £765,000. Without community intervention, it is highly likely to be sold to a private developer and converted into expensive luxury flats.

3. Our Vision: A Thriving "Micro-Neighbourhood" 

Waterloo Square is a self-contained community of roughly 50 to 150 residents and around a dozen independent businesses. By coming together as the "Waterloo Square Quarter," we can build a hyper-local, circular economy. Our vision includes:

• Economic Synergy: Businesses and residents supporting each other through collective purchasing, joint marketing campaigns, and exclusive local events to draw people off the newly regenerated Esplanade.

• Sustainability: Initiating community-led environmental projects, such as shared solar arrays on commercial roofs and zero-waste composting schemes for local restaurants and flats.

• The Waterloo Square Heritage Trust: Establishing a Public-Private-Community Partnership (PPCP) to purchase the Methodist Church. The building would be split into three zones: a community arts and youth hall, a commercially leased space (like an independent café or shared workspace) to generate sustainable income, and affordable upper-floor offices for local charities.

4. How We Can Influence the Future (Our Action Plan) 

Big councils take time, but a unified community of our size can act with incredible agility and lobbying power. To make this vision a reality, we must take the following steps:

• Hit the Legal Handbrake: To stop the Methodist Church from being sold privately, we will partner with an anchor charity—such as the Bognor Pier Trust C.I.C. or the Bognor Regis Museum—to submit an "Asset of Community Value" (ACV) nomination to Arun District Council. This is completely free and legally triggers a 6-month moratorium on any private sale, buying us time to raise funds.

• Form the "Micro-Council": We need to formally assemble a steering committee bringing together residents, local businesses, and key anchor groups like Bognorphenia, the Carnival Committee, and the RAFA Club. A 100% unified front of tenants and traders holds immense leverage to lobby ADC and the Town Council for public realm improvements and funding.

• Raise the Capital: A £765,000 asking price sounds insurmountable, but divided across Bognor's 25,000 residents, it equates to just £30 a head. We will draft a joint-venture prospectus for locals to buy community shares and apply for major grants like the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

• Demand Direct Engagement: We must use our collective voice to pressure the district decision-makers—the distant administrators in Littlehampton—to come to Waterloo Square, meet us at the RAFA Club, and treat us as equal partners in the town's regeneration.

Next Steps: 

Please come prepared to share your ideas on how your household or business can contribute to the "Waterloo Square Quarter". We are looking for volunteers to help draft the ACV, design our shared marketing strategy, and serve on the initial steering committee.

Proposal for the Establishment of the Waterloo Square Heritage Trust

The Vision 

Our goal is to create a safe, accessible, and resilient community hub for all Bognorians, built on the values of transparency and integrity. We propose setting up the Waterloo Square Trust, a social enterprise designed to save the historic former Methodist Church on Waterloo Square. If we do not step in as a community, this centenary building is at risk of being sold to a private developer and turned into expensive luxury flats.

Tackling the Cost 

The asking price for the building is £765,000. While this might sound like a massive wall to climb, Bognor Regis has around 25,000 residents, meaning the cost breaks down to roughly £30 per person—less than the cost of a night out or a decent bicycle per household. In today's property market, this is the equivalent of a small London flat, making it a fantastic opportunity to secure a major heritage site.

The Partnership Model 

To make this work without relying on ongoing council bailouts, the Trust will operate as a Community Interest Company (CIC) or Community Benefit Society. We will share the responsibility across three main pillars:

• Community and Charity Groups: Key local organisations will anchor the project, including the Bognor Pier Trust (bringing legal and property experience), the Bognor Regis Museum (acting as the core cultural charity), Bognorphenia, the 381 RAFA Club, and the Carnival Committee.

• Public Sector: Bognor Regis Town Council and the District Council will provide democratic oversight and help align the project with town-centre improvements.

• Private Enterprise: Ethical investors and independent local businesses will be brought in to help fund the initial setup and provide a steady rental income.

How the Building Will Work 

The building will be split into different zones so that commercial income pays for the community spaces:

• The Main Vaulted Hall: Kept for the community, this space will host youth mentoring, arts events, and satellite exhibitions for the local history museum.

• The Secondary Hall & Annex: This will be rented out commercially to an independent café, artisanal bakery, or shared workspace, generating the money needed to keep the building running.

• Upper Rooms: These will offer low-cost, shared office and meeting spaces for local Bognor charities.

Our Immediate Action Plan 

To stop the building from being sold privately, we must take the following steps immediately:

1. Hit the Legal Handbrake: The Bognor Pier Trust or Bognor Museum must submit an "Asset of Community Value" (ACV) request to Arun District Council. This is completely free and will force a 6-month pause on any private sale.

2. Build the Team: We will hold an urgent meeting with all the key community groups and local councillors to form our official steering committee.

3. Raise the Money: We will pull together our "Bognor Spirit" and apply for major national grants—such as the National Lottery Heritage Fund—while creating a prospectus for locals to buy community shares in the building.