Land may be used for housing if covenant removed
A mixed housing development could be built on Adur Council owned land in Southwick if an application to the land tribunal to remove a 1930s covenant is approved. Adur’s cabinet have agreed in principle to work with HydeMartlet Housing Association.
The housing association approached the council in June with a proposal to work in partnership and build a high quality, environmentally friendly, mixed housing development of 50 – 75 new homes. The association completed the Ledge in Fishersgate this summer, a mixed affordable rent and shared ownership scheme.
In the 1930s when the owner of the land died he left it to the then Southwick Urban District Council for cemetery use. Southwick cemetery, adjacent to the land was extended in 2007 with enough plots for 50 years.
The land at Overhill in Southwick was identified by the council as having development potential in 2005. Adur’s cabinet have instructed council officers to apply to the Land Tribunal to have the covenant removed.
If this is successful the council will seek financial backing from the Homes and Communities Agency as well as working in partnership with HydeMartlett and a developer.
The mix would include, affordable rent, shared ownership and private ownership.
There are 1600 families on the housing register and the need for affordable homes is rising by 226 a year. Cabinet member for regeneration, Jim Funnell said: “We recognise that residents who live nearby are concerned about new development on their doorstep. However, we cannot ignore this approach from HydeMartlet as an opportunity to build more affordable homes in Adur and as landowners we would be able to influence the design and the housing mix. It would be nice to see young families given the opportunity to live in a new home in this area.”