‘Great news for Adur’: Councillors and residents react to proposals for major green space in Lancing

Last week the council announced plans to purchase the 70-acre New Salts Farm site, which lies between the A259 and the railway line in Lancing.

Developers have previously set their sights on the land – with Hyde New Homes exploring the viability of creating more than 450 properties at the location.

But if Adur District Council’s plans to buy the site go ahead, it will preserve and enhance the land as ‘a haven for natural habitat’.

The news has been widely welcomed by councillors and residents alike.

Councillor Joss Loader said: “This is a really positive move and Adur District Council is to be applauded for stepping in to allay residents’ concerns in such a dynamic and innovative way.

“For years, people living on Shoreham Beach and at West Beach in Lancing have been really worried that this vitally important green gap would one day fall into the hands of developers.

“The A259 is already gridlocked and there is no capacity within the over-burdened infrastructure for 450 new homes on New Salts Farm.

“For decades, it has created a natural green corridor, distinguishing the two very distinctive communities of Shoreham and Lancing.

“I am delighted that it looks set to be given lasting protection.

“Great news for our communities and Adur as a whole.”

Commenting online, Sarah Crompton said: “Good. It is about time we cherished our green spaces and left them for the wildlife. Too much building and concrete in this area.”

Pauline Cory said: “Fantastic news, our greenspaces can never be replaced once we have lost them and we desperately need any areas like this (and Goring Gap) to be preserved.”

Christopher Baker agreed: “Great news! We need to preserve our green spaces for wildlife and residents alike.”

Funding for the acquisition will come from the sale of the former Adur Civic Centre, where Hyde is working with the local authority to bring forward designs for 173 new homes and 1,000 sqm of office space.

A report on purchasing New Salts Farm is to be presented to executive councillors at a virtual meeting of the Joint Strategic Committee tomorrow (Tuesday, September 8).

If the proposal is approved, councillors will then investigate how to best utilise the land for the wider benefit of residents and nature – which could include some of it being set aside for capturing solar energy.