Gasworks site lights up housing prospects

Disused for decades, the overgrown acre had previously been ruled out as a building plot because of the high expense of treating the land, contaminated by many years of producing gas from coal.

But now, with house prices in attractive towns such as Arundel still rising, development on the Ford Road site, near the A27 roundabout, may well be viable.

It has been included in the Arundel neighbourhood plan as one of a number of possible locations for a total of up to 90 new homes. The steering group behind the plan has suggested a figure of up to 37 homes on the gasworks, which is owned by the Angmering Park Estate, but is on a long-term lease to National Grid, on the condition it must eventually be returned to the estate in a decontaminated state.

Agents for National Grid are looking into the land’s potential for housebuilding.

James Stewart, chairman of the steering group, said: “We are particularly proud of the Ford Road site, because it is achievable and deliverable in the plan period.”

Other sites earmarked for housing include Castle Stables, for up to 16 homes, the former Bevin and Bevin factory site, in River Road (up to 13 homes) and Fitzalan Road (up to 24).

Unpopular sites, next to the A284 and riding stables, and ‘Horses’ Field’, off Pearson Road, were rejected.