PLANS for an Ikea superstore and 600 homes will go ahead, the Government has confirmed.

Yesterday the the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government confirmed it would not be called in to review the £150 million development in Lancing.

Adur District Council leader Neil Parkin said: “After seven months of waiting, I very much welcome this decision from the Government which gives certainty to the developer while also providing a massive shot in the arm for our local economy.

“This application was one of the largest ever in Adur’s history promising an investment of more than £150 million and the creation of hundreds of homes and jobs, along with community space, in our area.”

The application from New Monks Farm Development, a subsidiary of Brighton and Hove Albion FC, is for land between Shoreham Airport and the Brighton and Hove Albion FC training ground.

The club's executive director Martin Perry said: "The club is pleased that the secretary of state has not intervened and will now work closely with Adur District Council to bring this project to fruition.

"Along with the airport development the projects represent an inward investment in Adur of £180 million, create 1300 jobs for local people, generate £3.25 million in public sector receipts and inject £23 million into the local economy per annum."

Thirty per cent of the homes will be affordable and 108 families from Adur’s housing waiting list will get the chance to move to the new development.

Plans include the provision of a new roundabout on the A27, a country park, land for a school and a community hub.

A team from law firm DMH Stallard were responsible for the planning application.

The company's principal director of planning at DMH Stallard, Peter Rainier, said: “The New Monks Farm and Shoreham Airport developments are once in a generation developments that will create hundreds of new jobs, much needed homes, leisure and lifestyle opportunities, new education provision, transport infrastructure and the first IKEA in Sussex.”

The building work will also see the Withy Patch Gypsy and Traveller site moved and expanded.

Adur District Council’s planning committee approved the proposal for the New Monks Farm development in October 2018 subject to it being referred to the Secretary of State for Communities.

The council received notification from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government it would not be called in yesterday, meaning the decision to approve the application stands.

But there has also been criticism of the decision by those opposed to the development.

Tim Loughton, Conservative MP for East Worthing and Shoreham, said: "Very disappointed to receive confirmation from the Department for Housing, Communities and Local Government that they will not be calling in the planning application for New Monks Farm as I and many of my constituents requested."