PLANS have been revealed to convert industrial units the equivalent size of seven football pitches into 400 homes.

The site in Shoreham Port, which previously belonged to a marble importer, has been sold to the housing association Southern Housing Group.

The plan is to build 400 residential units, retail space and hotel accommodation, subject to consent.

Designs for the site at the waterside of Shoreham Harbour are still in the developmental phase but Southern Housing has plans for a mixed-use scheme after securing outline planning permission from Adur and Worthing Councils.

Located on the waterfront near Brighton Road just outside Shoreham town centre, the site comprises 7.3 acres (2.9 hectares) of industrial development land.

Shoreham Port is looking to sell off its investment in the western side of the port where it feeds into the River Adur.

This is because the river can only accommodate boats up to a certain size (80m), restricting how much cargo can be brought in.

Peter Davies, the development director of Shoreham Port, said the transformation would benefit the area due to high housing demand.

He said: "It’s a substantial site and it attracted quite a bit of interest. Southern Housing Group made the best offer. It will be a significant scheme when it happens."

Mr Davies said the move could be followed by other ports selling up industrial sites for housing.

He added: "There’s always that pressure on the smaller ports like Littlehampton, Shoreham and Newhaven for the more attractive waterfront locations to end up as housing.

"It made sense to sell the site. The writing was on the wall [because of shipping restrictions in the Adur].

"As much as we wanted to see the port expand on the river [west] side it’s just not practical."

The port will instead be focusing on the eastern side of the harbour, nearest Brighton and Hove, because it can handle more cargo.

The port employs 1,600 people and bosses expect that to increase.

Jack Booth of Savills, which jointly advised the port on the sale along with Oakley Commercial, said it was a "strong sale".

He said: “This was a rare opportunity to dispose of a significant section of Shoreham riverside, where outline consent has already been granted for a high value alternative use.

"Following interest from a number of potential purchasers, we are very pleased to have secured this strong sale on behalf of our client.”

Councillor Pat Beresford, executive member for regeneration at Adur District Council, said: “I look forward to seeing the full planning application from Southern Housing Group, encouraging a high quality design which will set the standard for the redevelopment of the Western Harbour Arm, creating high-quality, affordable, living and employment space for our community.”