THESE pictures reveal progress at the New Monks Farm development which will have 600 homes, a primary school and its very own country park.
The development, which is being run by contractor Adenstar on land sold by Brighton and Hove Albion, started in November 2019 and the buzz of building activity all around is clear to see.
The 121 acre site should be finished in terms of the infrastructure by the end of 2022, with the housing estate being developed by Cala Homes to follow.
A £2 million investment is going into a 52 acre country park that will boast 500 new trees.
It is hoped the country park will be a thriving space for wildlife, with bat boxes being installed, and plenty of spaces for the area’s native lizard population.
Meanwhile Mackleys, another contractor, have planted a new saltmarsh area north of the pumping station to ensure that there is still the same amount of saltmarsh compared to before the pumping station was built.
There are three pumps, which were brought in from a Dutch company, to ensure the area, which was once a natural flood plain, will not flood.
These pumps feature massive Archimedes screws which syphon the water into the River Adur. At low tide, the pumps will not be needed.
But when water hits a certain level, sensors will automatically activate one of the pumps to drain water from the surrounding waterways that spread across the development.
In extreme conditions, two pumps might be used. But the third pump is said to not be required unless it was the “end of the world”, said one of the developers.
The waterways have been expanded, while the development will also have its very own sewage system.
Despite IKEA pulling out of building a shop in June, citing a change in shopper’s habits to online as their reasoning, the land where the store would have been is still owned by the Swedish company.
That land is theirs to sell, but it is said it must be an “employment generating space”.
Meanwhile the main roundabout, which will see the current junction with traffic lights removed on the A27, will offer access into the new development and beyond, as well as Shoreham airport.
With the current traffic lights going, a cycle path will be built which will run under the flyover and allow bikes and horses access underneath the A27.
The developers say they will build two thirds of the roundabout on the southside of the A27, then allow traffic through on the semi-finished roundabout while they complete the final third which is where the A27 currently sits.
There has also been space allocated for a primary school to the west of the commercial site, next to where IKEA was going to be.
A spokesman for New Monks Farm development, said it will be beneficial to the local community.
He said: "There has been a huge amount of attention to detail across the development site and these will be of enormous benefit to the local community.
"The new pumping station and flood defences are vital improvements which will benefit the whole area; the new roundabout on the A27 and removal of the traffic lights at the junction the airport will make the road safer.
"Community benefits include the country park, which will be one of the biggest anywhere in Sussex, while the school, community centre and new travellers' site will be great additions for all local Adur residents.
"The much-needed housing, including social housing is desperately needed in the area."
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