Worthing Residents Voice Objections Over Permanent Bus Depot Plans

Plans to make a temporary bus depot at Northbrook College in Worthing permanent have triggered strong objections from nearby residents concerned about noise, pollution and traffic.

Compass Travel is seeking planning permission to continue using part of Northbrook College’s car park in Littlehampton Road, Worthing, as its long-term base. The proposal includes a new modular building for staff facilities, daytime supervisor operations, a toilet and welfare unit, and enhanced bus washing equipment. The company had previously relocated to the college after losing its lease at a Durrington site in 2022.

Residents living near the site have submitted objections, citing issues such as increased pollution, disturbances caused by bus movements, and the impact on quality of life. Some raised concerns that emissions were entering their homes, with one resident reporting that exhaust fumes had reached a child’s bedroom. Others questioned the suitability of a college car park as a permanent depot location and feared further strain on already congested local roads like Titnore Lane.

Compass Travel responded by highlighting mitigation measures, including the construction of a 2-metre acoustic fence to reduce noise and routing changes to avoid residential areas. The company stated that no workshops or admin offices would be based on-site, with all maintenance now carried out in Lewes. The Chichester College Group, which runs the site, backed the plan, saying the arrangements have been working effectively and would not interfere with current or future educational operations at the campus.