Work at a new housing development has halted after the collapse of the construction firm responsible for the build.

Westridge Construction has been building 49 new homes in Albion Street, Southwick, for Adur District Council since 2021.

But work has been paused as the company has gone into administration.

Adur District Council said it is now considering a number of options to allow the final steps of the project to be completed so that families from the area can move into the much-needed properties.

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Options include working with another building contractor who would be able to pick up the work quickly, organising a managing contractor who would manage the final pieces of delivery or adopting the last stages of development management itself.

The council said none of the options being considered will increase the cost of the project because of insurance put in place before work began, in the form of a performance bond.

Councillor Neil Parkin, the leader of the council, said: “The collapse of Westridge Construction is extremely sad news for the company and all of the staff involved and we hope a solution can be found that allows them to continue working in some form.

“We have insurance to protect the council in such circumstances so the issue will not increase the cost of the project but it will inevitably delay its completion.

“We hope to learn more about the situation from the administrators over the coming days so the final few weeks of construction work on the development can be completed and we can provide new council homes for residents in need of somewhere to live.”