More than a thousand homes could be built on a former airfield.

Housing provider Abri and developer Vistry Group want to build 1,500 homes at the former Ford Airfield near Arundel.

The major development would provide 50 per cent affordable housing, in a mix of shared ownership, first homes and rented tenures, with Ford Community Land Trust having first right of refusal on the affordable housing delivered via the Section106 agreement.

Alongside the new homes, the site would be transformed to provide a 60-bed care home, a new local centre with commercial and retail uses, almost 1,500 sqm of new community and leisure space, land for a new primary school and public open spaces including new sports pitches and allotments.

Some £35 million in section 106 contributions would be invested into the community, with funds allocated to Littlehampton Rugby Club, Climping Cricket pitch and a new sports hall in Angmering. Approximately £1.8m will be allocated to healthcare provision to support the new community.

Vistry said the new homes will be built to Future Homes Standard, a regulation which ensures new homes built produce 75-80 per cent less carbon emissions than older homes.

Improvements to walking and cycle routes connecting the site to Ford Railway Station will also be made. New walking connections to the surrounding areas of Ford, Yapton and Climping will also be created, providing access to the River Arun and the surrounding countryside.

A period of public consultation is set to commence this spring, with work expected to commence next year subject to planning approval.

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Gary Orr, group chief executive of Abri said: “This transformative development will provide many hundreds of new, quality affordable homes, as well as new services and facilities for the local community. By working in a joint venture with Vistry, we’ve unlocked the full potential of the site, making sure it delivers the best outcomes for the community.

“We want to play our role in tackling the nation’s housing crisis and Ford Airfield will contribute significantly to Abri’s commitment to build 10,000 homes by 2030, whilst we will reinvest any surplus to improve existing homes and services, invest in communities and continue to build more affordable housing.”

Stephen Teagle, chief executive of Countryside Partnerships (part of Vistry Group) said: “We have a well-established, long-term relationship with Abri and Ford Airfield perfectly supports our strategy of delivering a significant number of mixed-tenure homes with affordable housing partners. Through our joint venture, we’re able to increase the level of affordable housing across the whole site from the 30 per cent planning requirement to 50 per cent, which will have a major impact on West Sussex’s affordable housing supply.”

David Brocklebank, executive managing director of Wates Developments Group, said: “We’re proud to have had the opportunity to create a high-quality, sustainable, multi-use residential development over a number of years, in consultation with local stakeholders, which will address the pressing need for housing, as well as foster a sense of community belonging and well-being. This project underscores the power of constructive neighbourhood planning and collaborative efforts to develop this transformative project.”