PARISH councillors have made a bid to stop a multi-million pound development including an IKEA.

Lancing Parish Councillors passed a motion objecting to the development of New Monks Farm being developed in a heated debate on Wednesday.

The development led by Brighton and Hove Albion will see the Swedish furniture giant’s first Sussex store built alongside 600 new homes and a primary school as part of the major redevelopment near Shoreham Airport.

The motion put forward by councillor Geoff Patmore but amended during the full council meeting stated that the development would cause a massive flood risk to surrounding properties and to Lancing.

Mr Patmore said: “As far we are concerned our residents are most worried about flooding - there is no satisfactory solution to the drainage issues.

“Considering the misery we see in other parts of the country - residents come first and the financial considerations are secondary.

“No decision has been made on whether IKEA will come yet, so you’ve got to way it all up.

“You can use all those arguments but when you consider the massive flood risk, is that a feasible argument for 20,000 residents living in Lancing.”

Councillor Lionel Parsons said it was important to make the council’s view known to the planning inspector, who is currently undertaking an examination of the Adur Local Plan.

Mr Parsons said: “It is not possible because the land is so shallow in its form and the water does not run off. Any development in my opinion will have an issue with flooding.

“Also the infrastructure around it and the traffic will be exacerbated beyond belief once IKEA and the 600 homes are there.”

“So I fully support the motion, not to stop building per say, but that is just the wrong place.”

All bar one councillor voted in favour of the motion. There was one abstention. The council also voted unanimously that when an planning application related to New Monks Farm is received, it comes straight to the full council instead of the planning committee.

The development is set to create more than 1,000 jobs in total, contribute £11 million to the local economy and bring £40 million of transport improvements including the removal of the Sussex Pad traffic lights.

It is hoped that Ikea could be opened by summer 2019 with the mix of houses delivered over an eight years.

Adur District Council will benefit from £2.75 million in council tax and business rates from the completed scheme. Adur planning committee is expected make a decision around June.