Key projects for 2026 outlined by Chichester District Council
Published 15:55 on 21 Jan 2026
Looking into the feasibility of a business innovation centre or hub to help boost the economy, carrying out improvements to the White Pavilion in Chichesters Priory Park and working with Chichester College to develop an HGV maintenance training facility are some of the key projects that Chichester District councillors have agreed to take forward over the next year.
The projects have been outlined as part of the Chichester District Councils new Corporate Plan 2026 2030 which was approved by councillors at their meeting on Tuesday 20 January 2026.
Councillors agreed to set aside just over £6.2 million from the councils general reserves to fund the larger projects while an additional £667,700 was approved for several smaller scale projects.
One of the councils main projects will be looking to see whether there is demand for a second innovation or hub in Chichester as part of the councils commitment to working with partners to deliver new infrastructure aimed at driving growth in high value sectors, investment and skills and employment opportunities.
The aim of the project would be to provide flexible space for occupiers to develop innovative solutions to complex challenges, with the required resources, support and networking opportunities to help them succeed. The current phase of the project would involve assessing demand and viability, looking at what council-owned land could be suitable and potential models for running the facility.
Another project for the following year will be to carry out urgent refurbishment and repairs to the White Pavilion in Chichesters Priory Park. Architects have been appointed to develop plans and costings for three different options. The building is home to several cricket teams and improved facilities will help support existing and future users of the park.
Over the next year the councils Chichester Contract Services (CCS) based at the depot in Westhampnett will be working with Chichester College Group to create an HGV Maintenance Apprenticeship programme to help meet a growing shortage of technicians, especially in the south of England.
The council already operates a large HGV fleet for its waste and recycling collections which will continue to grow in size as a result of the new domestic food waste collection service and having access to locally trained and locally based technicians will help support this key council function.
Chichester College Group approached Chichester District Council to see if it would consider partnering with the college, which already runs a light vehicle maintenance apprenticeship course for vans and cars. The council identified that the depot has space to accommodate the training and would potentially bring back into use two overflow maintenance bays. The collaboration will involve the depot providing the facilities and infrastructure while the college will provide any extra equipment as well as managing the course including staff and students.
Currently the nearest HGV maintenance apprenticeships are in south London or Southampton so this partnership will help plug a gap in provision and support HGV fleets in this area. It is anticipated that the first intake of students would take place in September 2027.
In addition, the depot will also be looking at a project to install a second rolling wheel HGV brake tester. Legislation requires regular brake testing of HGVs, and the demand for the single unit that is currently installed continues to grow with no resilience should it be out of commission.
At the moment HGVs are required to have a brake test during the annual MOT. Currently, the depot shares a brake tester with its onsite car MOT facility. Up until now this arrangement has worked, but as the fleet continues to grow, more capacity is required to meet this. It is hoped that the new tester will be in place by the end of 2026.
The council will also be working on a feasibility study to see whether a walking, cycling and wheeling path through Oaklands Park could be introduced. The path would run north to south connecting Wellington Road to Oaklands Way. If the study concludes that the path would work, then construction could be underway by the beginning of January 2027.
In addition, the council will be looking to carry out a range of improvements to Northgate car park in Chichester and Bosham Lane car park in Bosham. These will include re-lining the bays, enhanced planting schemes, installing information boards, improving signage and carrying out resurfacing work where needed.
Well be working on some really exciting projects over the next year, says Councillor Adrian Moss, Leader of Chichester District Council and Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Property. We want to ensure that our young people have jobs and remain part of our district, which is why we are keen to look at the potential for another enterprise centre or innovation centre to support growth and employment. The HGV apprenticeship programme will give young people living locally the opportunity to develop skills and expertise in an area that will provide significant support to one of our councils key functions. We are really proud to be partnering with Chichester College Group and look forward to working with them on bringing this much-needed skills boost to the area.
The White Pavilion in Priory Park is a key community asset which supports a number of sports clubs and multiple events during the year and so Im delighted that our council will be securing its future and ensuring that the facilities meet the needs of existing and future users.
Ensuring that our car parks are welcoming, pleasant spaces for visitors to our district is also very important and so its great that we will be able to carry out a number of improvements to our Northgate and Bosham car parks, and keeping with the transport theme, we want to help connect two important parts of the city more easily and so the initial study on the wheels path will help to determine whether this will work.
People can read the Corporate Plan at: https://www.chichester.gov.uk/...and also view a webcast of the Full Council meeting where the plan was discussed by going to: https://www.chichester.gov.uk/...