Funding boost for Site Six homes in North Bersted

The 6m allocation from the government's Kick-Start scheme will ensure a target of 30 per cent of the homes on the site are designated as being either part rent/part buy or to be sold through housing associations.

With significant pressure on Arun District Council (ADC) to meet high national targets for affordable housing, the development is seen as vital to contributing towards assisting families in Bognor.

But the scheme, which has caused controversy after an

11th-hour request to increase the total number of properties by 100 to 750, has resulted in traffic chaos over initial site roadworks.

These have left businesses in the area fuming after sustaining tens of thousands in lost trade as shoppers stay away from the area.

Labour's prospective parliamentary candidate for Bognor, Michael Jones, welcomed the government's financial investment for Bersted, but was critical of the district's handling of affordable housing.

He said: "This 6m investment in our area shows the Labour government wants to provide more housing for young people and people in need in our area.

"This is in contrast to the Conservative ADC which has done little to meet this need.

"That the government has had to take such steps shows how poorly-served local people have been by Arun.

"This 'Kickstart' initiative has also been invaluable in keeping our construction and building industries going during the downturn '“ people need to be reminded that such extra spending was opposed by the Conservatives '“ they were wrong then and if they had got their way this vital addition to affordable housing in our town would almost certainly never have gone ahead.

"Labour is working to meet the needs of people in Bognor Regis through this action and that makes me very proud."

A spokesperson for ADC defended its record on delivering affordable homes.

She said: "There is a shortage of affordable housing across Arun just as there is in most towns and cities across the South East

"This council is committed to working to address the affordable homes issue across our district.

"Our target is for 40 per cent of all developments to be affordable housing and we welcome the financial assistance from government to housebuilders on the Site 6 development which, together with a contribution of 500,000 from the council, will result in 139 affordable homes as part of the development.

"Notwithstanding the impact of the recession, the council has worked with registered social landlords and house builders on delivering a number of schemes across the district such as developments at Yapton and Littlehampton.

"The council is working with Shelter and has also just launched its Raise the Roof campaign which calls on residents to have their say and help form a new action plan ensuring local housing is fit to meet the needs of Arun's future."

For more information on the campaign, visit www.arun.gov.uk