Work on homes to start after 'complex negotiations'

Preparation work for a new 216-home scheme in West Sussex will start next month after "complex negotiations" to sell the land were finalised.

Planning permission is already in place to redevelop Union Place in Worthing but work has yet to begin amid the ongoing sale of the land to developer Roffey Homes.

Worthing Borough Council had originally partnered with the developer for the project but decided to sell the land outright due to financial pressures.

Rita Garner, council cabinet member for regeneration, said: "We are extremely pleased to get to this point. It is great that these complex negotiations are finalised."

After announcing plans to sell the land last year, the council said work was expected to be completed by 2027.

Now Roffey Homes said it was anticipating construction would be completed at the end of 2029/2030.

While the development originally included some affordable homes, the authority's planning committee has now agreed all homes can be sold at market rate after Roffey Homes was unable to find a provider to manage the affordable housing units.

The affordable housing component will be explored offsite instead, the council said.

It also confirmed the small High Street surface car park opposite Waitrose was part of the sale and would close immediately.

The Union Place NCP car park was also part of the sale but will remain open until early March.

Garner added: "Once complete, Union Gardens will create a vibrant new community that will breathe new life into this corner of the town centre."

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