THE future of a housing development of up to 450 homes on land dismissed by objectors as an unsuitable flood plain is set to be decided by a planning inspector later this year.

Hyde Housing’s proposals for homes on land between the A259 Saltings Roundabout and Shoreham Airport went on public display last weekend.

The suitability of the site for housing will be decided as part of the public examination of the Adur Local Plan likely to be debated before the planning inspector in October.

The site is currently not included in the draft plan with the local authority deeming its flood risk issues as “unsolvable".

The land was previously owned by rival housebuilder Taylor Whimpey who sold it after failing to get their own housing development off the ground.

Hyde unveiled their plans for a scheme they have dubbed Kingfisher Meadow at a public exhibition at Lancing Parish Hall on Friday and Saturday.

The first phase of the scheme would be for 49 two, three and four bedroom homes which developers said would be a mix of affordable, low cost homes for rent and sale together with homes for sale on the open market.

The whole scheme is scheduled to be developed over a decade. 

It would be the second major development for the firm in and around Shoreham with outline planning permission already in place for hundreds of homes on Ropetackle North.

Jenny Towler, of the Shoreham Society, said: “We have concerns about the density of the development and the fact that we don’t believe it is a suitable site because of its issues with groundwater and the tidal walls.

“Adur council don’t think its suitable otherwise it would have been in the local plan but because the plan is not in place, it gives the chance for housebuilders to keep pushing forward.”

Tom Shaw, Hyde South development director, said: “Our vision for Kingfisher Meadows is to deliver family homes within attractive landscaped grounds whilst maintaining the existing ditch network, enhancing the ecological habitat and providing new public amenity space.

"We want community feedback to ensure that whilst building much needed new homes for local people, we also deliver wider benefits for the local community.

“As a responsible landowner and neighbour, we have worked closely with representatives of the West Beach Resident’s Association and we intend to continue working with the local community so the right long term approach is taken and the development of new homes at New Salts Farm has a positive impact on the local area.”