Greater Brighton chiefs have welcomed the news that planning approval for more than 3,000 homes north of Burgess Hill has been granted.

Homes England, the government’s housing agency, took over the delivery of the project – known as the Northern Arc – last year pledging £63 million of investment to unlock the major scheme.

With detailed plans worked up, Mid Sussex District Council’s planning committee gave its approval yesterday (October 3, 2019).

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Work on the first phase is expected to begin in 2020/21, triggering the start of more than a decade of construction work.

Speaking after the news was announced, Greater Brighton Chairman Cllr Dan Humphreys said: “This is great news for our region. It means more homes, a boost for the economy and better services.”

The funding injection, which comes from the Government’s Land Assembly Fund, will allow the construction of key infrastructure – including roads, a bridge, landscaping, drainage and utility works – to be accelerated at the eastern and western ends of the site, enabling 1,250 homes to be built.

From 2023 the centre of the site will then be developed, providing 2,250 further homes.

Work on the final phase is expected to start in 2031/32 with residents moving in to the last 451 homes by March 2034.

Homes England has also appointed Countryside Properties as developer for the Freeks Farm area of the site.

Countryside will start building the first phase of 460 homes in March 2020, on the east of the site.

It is expected that these will be completed from December 2020, providing a mix of apartments and one to four bedroom houses. Their proposals prioritise design quality and use of Modern Methods of Construction.

Speaking in March when the deal was announced, Minister of State for Housing, Kit Malthouse MP, said: “Burgess Hill is a shining example of how our £1.3 billion Land Assembly Fund is rising to meet the challenge of delivering more, better, faster home construction – helping to deliver up to 3,500 extra homes for the people of Sussex.

“It’s all part of how this Government is supporting the delivery 300,000 new homes a year by the mid-2020s, helping a new generation to realise the dream of home ownership.”

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