More business than meets the eye ...
The Lancing Business Park started life as sidings and carriage works for the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway. In the 1960’s when branch line railways and the British railway infrastructure was cut back dramatically the carriage works became redundant.
The estate developed and became home to a wide range of businesses from high tech electronics through furniture manufacturing to heavy steel fabrication.
In 1999, headed by Paul Street, Economic Development Officer at Adur District Council, a business park steering committee was formed. The aim was to develop more of a sense of community between residents of the estate and also to apply funds available through the ERB budget.
A great deal was achieved during the subsequent years including re-branding the estate The Lancing Business Park.
In 2004 Iain Flitcroft, Managing Director of Manhattan Furniture and Peter Tyler, Managing Director of Finecut International, both estate residents, formed Lancing Business Park Limited. Lancing Business Park Limited is a non profit making enterprise and was established to form a hub to the business community on the park. The Government support funding was coming to an end and subsequently the reduction in regional and local funding was becoming apparent as previously enjoyed support was slowly reducing.
This was not just at LBP but nationally, therefore as a consequence the Government of the time under the auspices of the Local Government Act 2003, Part 4 and the BID (England) Regulations 2004 created a self help programme simply known as a BID or Business Improvement District.
By utilising the authority of this legislation LBP BID was created and is currently managed through a group of volunteers who have interests on the Business Park supported by a paid coordinator.
The old carriage works is where Lancing Business Park is now situated
Welcome to Lancing Business Park.
In my role as Chairman of Lancing Business Park BID, I would like to wish you all a happy, healthy and successful 2018. Following on from Mike Punter’s Christmas update, on behalf of everyone on Lancing Business Park, I would like to thank Mike for his enormous contribution to the success of LBP BID. I’ve been a committee member / Director of LBP for many years and happily accepted the role of Chairman and agreed to take on the associated responsibilities until the AGM on the 8th March this year, when a new Chairman will be elected.
My business (Sussex Transport) was established some 20 years ago when we chose Lancing Business Park as our home. I am eternally grateful to our business park and indeed the companies based here, for being instrumental in the success and growth of our family business. I am extremely happy to be given the opportunity to show my appreciation and give a little back by way of my time. I’m a great advocate of our BID, as I have personally seen the vast improvements that the BID has implemented, enhancing our working environment and providing an aesthetically pleasing, safe and connected business community.
2018 is going to be an important time for our BID, as July sees the end of the current 5 year BID term. In line with British Bids policy we will be issuing voting ballots to BID levy contributors on the park to determine whether Lancing Business Park BID and its services should continue for another term or to cease with immediate effect. I sincerely hope that there will be a positive outcome from the vote given the value and benefits that we currently enjoy, such as business park management, communication, signage, CCTV and free recycling of paper and card.
Lancing Business Park is a Business Improvement District (BID), which is a self help group collectively putting funds into a central pot to improve the business park. There are approximately 290 buildings ranging in size from large factories and showrooms to single offices; and 240+ different companies employing an estimated 2500 people.