Airfield housing vision is put to public

Residents will be asked for their views on a masterplan outlining a vision for the development of the strategic site at Ford airfield in the coming years.

The Ford strategic development site was allocated for new homes in the adopted Arun Local Plan.

At least 1,500 dwellings will be delivered at the site before 2031, along with associated infrastructure, including a new local centre with a primary school.

The masterplan includes a vision for the site and information on how the proposals will deliver ‘a high quality and sustainable place’, a spokesman for Arun District Council said.

It also illustrates how the proposals have evolved over time through previous community engagement and highlights important factors that will need to be considered as part of future planning applications, the council spokesman said.

The council has launched a consultation to gather feedback from residents on the masterplan document, which will run until 5pm on Thursday, January 14.

A spokesman said: “We are aware that it is not ideal to consult over the Christmas period so we have extended the consultation to allow additional time for comments to be submitted.”

The masterplan document will then be presented to the Development Control Committee for endorsement on February 3.

If it is endorsed, a series of planning applications would then be required to deliver the scheme.

These applications would need to be in line with the approved masterplan, the council spokesman said.

Councillor Martin Lury, cabinet member for planning at Arun District Council, said: “The Ford Strategic Development site was allocated in the adopted Arun Local Plan.

“This masterplan document seeks to deliver 1,500 homes towards the Council’s requirement for 20,000 dwellings before 2031, along with associated infrastructure.

“The masterplan document seeks to set the principles upon which future planning applications will be based.”

To take part in the consultation and have your say on the masterplan, visit arunconsult.objective.co.uk/kse.

A public exhibition on proposals for the site, put forward jointly by developers Redrow Homes, Southern Counties and Wates Developments Ltd was held earlier this year.