Affordable homes delivery in Adur and Worthing on track for 2025

An updated strategy on plans to deliver 1,400 affordable homes across Adur and Worthing has been approved by councillors.

The Pathways to Affordable Homes report, which sets out how Adur & Worthing Councils intend to provide homes across the area over 2022/23, was adopted as part of both councils' Housing Strategy at a Joint Strategic Committee on Wednesday 16th March 2022 (Agenda Item 8).

Affordable housing includes social housing or homes where the cost is at a level which is affordable to those who would otherwise be unable to house themselves.

A combined total of 1,400 affordable homes will be built by 2025, with a minimum of 250 directly delivered by the Councils.

In its original strategy which was published in March last year, Adur District Council committed to delivering a minimum of 200 homes and enabling 750 affordable homes including renovation, refurbishment or replacement of its own housing stock.

Since then it has provided 15 new homes at Cecil Norris House, in Ravens Road, Shoreham, started on site with a further 55, and has planning permission for five new sites in the district - Leconfield Road, Lancing, Sylvan Road, Sompting, St Giles Close and Wilmot Road, Shoreham, and Gardner Road, Southwick.

A detailed consultation is also underway with 243 households on the Southwick Estate looking at options from refurbishment to redevelopment.

Worthing Borough Council, which does not own its own housing stock, said it would deliver 50 new homes itself while partnering with others to create 400 new affordable homes in the area.

Earlier this year Worthing Borough Council became a Registered Social Landlord allowing it to apply for grants for temporary and emergency accommodation schemes.

It has already completed two schemes in Rowlands Road and Downview Road, providing 36 units which will save the council £160,000 in its first year by reducing the Council's spending on temporary and emergency placements.

The Council has outline planning permission for 169 homes on the Union Place site, and Teville Gate is also earmarked for new homes with work underway in Fulbeck Avenue.

It is hoped more diverse and affordable housing will create new routes to home ownership, including shared ownership through rent to save schemes, while helping communities to thrive, and providing new skills and jobs.

This is being achieved through council-owned sites while supporting developers and local housing providers to suggest suitable housing schemes of their own.

Councillor Carson Albury, Adur District Council's Executive Member for Customer Services, which includes housing, said:

“Affordable housing is very much needed and I am proud that we are already delivering what we said we would to tenants in the area.

“We completed Cecil Norris House in autumn last year and tenants moved into the building soon after.

“Being able to provide safe, warm and affordable accommodation in a time of great uncertainty is something we strive for as a council and this strategy will help us to continue to do that.”

Councillor Heather Mercer, Worthing Borough Council's Executive Member for Customer Services, which includes housing, said:

“There is a lot of work which goes on behind the scenes to ensure these plans come to fruition and that we deliver what we have promised.

“This is important to residents in Worthing who struggle to afford the high rents in the private sector.

“Worthing has identified several sites where affordable housing will benefit residents living in the area and has a firm plan in place to make sure it is delivered for those who need it.”