£8m boost for affordable housing

The funding will enable 139 homes for affordable rent to be built as part of the site six development of Blake's Mead at Felpham.

It is probably the largest scheme around the town in years to help those in need of a suitable roof over their heads. All occupiers will be allocated from Arun District Council's housing list.

Housing provider Worthing Homes has worked with Barratt Homes, the district council and West Sussex County Council during the past 15 months to ensure this development obtained the support and funding it needed.

About two out of three of the properties are large family homes to help to meet the large demand for that type of accommodation.

Robin Roberts, Worthing Homes' property services director, said: "We have worked very closely with all partners including the Homes and Communities Agency to make sure this development went ahead, providing much-needed affordable homes within Arun."

Gillian Brown, Arun's leader, said: "We are delighted these plans have got the go-ahead as we feel many people in the Arun district will benefit, particularly those waiting for new affordable homes in the Bognor Regis area.

"Everyone involved in the project should be given credit for managing to form an agreement at a time when the economy is in a poor state."

Funding for the affordable housing has been provided by the Homes and Communities Agency with 8,053,000 topped up by 520,000 from Arun District Council.

These dwellings form part of the site six development to provide 1,350 new homes, along with a community hall, shops, sports pitches and other public open space, cyclepaths, footpaths, public transport and a school.

One in three of the homes will be affordable housing. The overall scheme will take shape in a series of phases and will take about eight years to complete.

A relief road to link the A29 (Oldland Farm] to the A259 from both the east and the west is set to be opened in the middle of the project.

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