MORE than 200 homes could be built on the site of a former gas works if plans are approved.

A plan to build 209 new homes on the site in Worthing has been submitted to the council.

The gas holders that used to dominate the skyline at the Park Road site could be replaced by five blocks of flats containing apartments ranging from studio to three bedroom accommodation.

The last of the gas holders, which reached 40 metres into the sky, was demolished in 2019.

Now an application, submitted by housebuilder St William Ltd, is to go before the planning committee of Worthing Borough Council within the next few months.

The Argus: The proposed homes The proposed homes

The blocks will be between three and seven storeys high and will surround a central garden.

Extensive consultations with local councillors, residents and the Worthing Society were held before the application was submitted.

Worthing Borough Council’s executive member for regeneration, councillor Kevin Jenkins, said: "This is a decision for the planning committee but the principle of building much needed homes on brownfield sites is sound and fits in with our long term plans to help revitalise our town centre through a mixture of new residents within walking distance creating demand for entertainment leisure activities and a good mix of retail."

Worthing Borough Council is struggling to meet the numbers for existing and future housing needs because of the lack of available land but brownfield developments, using old industrial and retail sites, are one way of providing new homes while protecting green spaces.

The gasworks, established in 1835 as the town’s population grew, expanded to cover its present site and a section of what is now the Waitrose car park.

At the height of its activity there were three gas holders and two manufacturing houses.

The last gasholder was decommissioned in 2009 and demolished two years ago.