New Monks Farm: Major progress on flood defences as work continues on IKEA development

Plans for the 600-home housing development, which will include an IKEA superstore and renovations to the A27, stipulated a raft of measures aimed at mitigating flooding.

These included a pumping station to remove flood water, fed by a series of new waterways.

A spokesman for developer The Community Stadium Ltd said: “One of the major benefits arising from the development of New Monks Farm is the improvements to the flood protection and watercourses across both New Monks Farm and Shoreham Airport.

“These works are important, and they will deliver major benefits to existing residential properties, so we prioritised these works and have made substantial progress on site.

“The majority of the new watercourses have now been formed creating the new northern channel which will lead from Manor Close in Lancing to a new pumping station that is under construction on the banks of the River Adur. The concrete structure of the new pumping station can now been seen appearing above ground.

“In addition to this the re-alignment of the flood defence works has now been completed and the compensatory salt marsh has already been formed.

“The flood defence and drainage works including the new pumping station are due to be completed and fully operational by the end of this year.”

Construction at New Monks Farm has continued steadily following a brief break during the first lockdown last summer.

Housing company Cala Homes has confirmed the first houses should be available to view in the spring, with work also set to begin on improvements to the A27. Read more here: New Monks Farm: Date set for first homes, A27 work ready to start and IKEA superstore update