Worthing to See Significant Increase in New Homes Under New Housing Plans

Worthing is set to experience a significant rise in new homes, with an increase of more than 500 as part of Housing Secretary Angela Rayner’s plans to make local housing targets mandatory once again.

Originally, the plans called for the construction of 322 homes in Worthing. However, under the revised proposals unveiled by Rayner, the target has been raised to 862 homes. These changes are part of a broader overhaul of England’s planning regulations aimed at addressing the housing shortage.

The new reforms explicitly encourage the development of brownfield sites, emphasising that the default response to such proposals should be affirmative. Additionally, the government will permit the controlled release of grey belt land, such as disused petrol stations and car parks, due to the insufficiency of brownfield land to meet housing needs.

Any green belt land utilised for development will adhere to stringent rules, ensuring that 50% of the homes are affordable, prioritising social rent, and providing access to essential amenities like green spaces, schools, and GP surgeries.