DEVELOPERS have said plans for new homes, land for a primary school and a new junction will go ahead at a development despite Ikea pulling out.

The furniture giant announced it will no longer build New Monks Farm in Lancing after selecting the site just over five years ago in 2016.

However, developers said the area will still be transformed with a 28 hectare country park, land for a new primary school, hundreds of houses and apartments.

A spokesman for New Monks Farm Developments Limited said “We note that Ikea have announced they are no longer proceeding to build their store, however, this makes no difference to our plans for the site.

"The new junction will proceed as planned and is needed for the new housing, as well as for the development planned for Shoreham Airport.

"This secured the future of the airport, which previously was in administration before our plans were approved.”

The club is behind the scheme with Carla Homes building 600 homes near its football training ground.

Cala Homes acquired the land in Mash Barn Lane in Lancing this time last year.

They will transform the area around Brighton and Hove Albion's training ground into a collection of one and two bedroom apartments and two to five bedroom homes.

Planning was approved in February last year for the mixed-use development, which also included land for a new primary school and the now cancelled Ikea store.

Ikea pulled out of the project, citing a change in shopping habits as more customers move online to make purchases.

Richard Rands, market expansion manager at Ikea UK and Ireland, said it was "not been an easy decision to make".

The announcement came after steel girders were installed near the A27 in Lancing to form a new access bridge to the New Monks Park development.

A highway bridge will connect the site to the A27 with a new four-arm roundabout.