What happens next with Lancing IKEA plans?

Residents hoping for a final decision on a controversial planning application for 600 homes and an IKEA in Lancing were left disappointed on Wednesday as councillors voted to defer their decision.
A masterplan of the New Monks Farm developmentA masterplan of the New Monks Farm development
A masterplan of the New Monks Farm development

So what happens next and when will a decision be made on the proposals?

Deferred decision

After more than four hours, councillors on Adur District Council’s planning committee voted 5-3 to defer their decision on the New Monks Farm application on Wednesday.

The public gallery at the meetingThe public gallery at the meeting
The public gallery at the meeting
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Committee members asked for more negotiations to take place.

They asked IKEA to undertake further work in relation to the environmental impact of the proposed development, taking into account the objections received.

They also asked for further discussions to be undertaken with Lancing College in relation to the proposed fourth arm of the proposed A27 roundabout.

An artist's impression of the developmentAn artist's impression of the development
An artist's impression of the development

What happens next?

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Martin Perry, director of New Monks Farm Development Limited, a subsidiary of Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, said: “We will go back to IKEA and see what further mitigation they can provide and we will continue our discussion with Lancing College.”

Tim Farlam, Real Estate Manager for IKEA UK and Ireland, said the store would ‘discuss the decision with New Monks Farm Development’ and ‘consider our next steps’.

A spokesman from Lancing College said: “There have been discussions with New Monks Farm concerning access to the College, but to date these have not led to any satisfactory conclusion.

“We will continue our dialogue with them, and other relevant parties, to try to find a solution which is right for all.”

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So when will another meeting be held?

The date and time of the next meeting is yet to be confirmed.

A spokesman from Adur District Council said details of when and where the revised hearing will take place will come forward in due course.

Once a decision is made on the application, the secretary of state will be notified.