Lancing residents 'imprisoned' in homes after being fenced in

Old garages between Gravelly Crescent and Daniel Close, Lancing, were demolished several months ago to make way for new modular housing.

But since then, work has come to a halt and residents say they are unable to exit the rear of their properties due to fencing put up around the site.

Concerns have been raised about potential fire risks.

One resident in Shadwells Road expressed his frustration at the situation.

He has not been able to access his garden from the back since May.

“There’s been no communication about what’s been going on,” he said.

“We don’t know what the next steps are.

“It’s very frustrating.

“A bit of communication would be nice.”

Another said they felt "imprisoned".

"Any repairs to the rear of our property cannot be done as tradesmen cannot get access," they said.

"This is also a fire safety issue."

The fencing has been up for months (Image: The Argus)

Modular housing developer Boutique Modern, which is responsible for the project, apologised for the inconvenience caused and said work has had to be paused on site.

Nick Kehoe, contracts manager at Boutique Modern, said: “Demolition works progressed well over the summer and we are pleased to confirm that both sites are ready for groundworks to start.

“Unfortunately, we’ve had to pause work on-site due to delays in diverting existing drainage, which has temporarily prevented us from moving on to the next planned phase. We are actively working to get the necessary approvals and we will resume work as soon as we possibly can. In the meantime, our team will continue to maintain a weekly presence on site.

“We understand that these delays and the constraints of the site have caused disruption for residents, particularly around accessing the back entrances to gardens, and we are genuinely sorry for any inconvenience this has caused. It is also important to note that the fencing is there to ensure residents’ safety during the construction works.

“We have been communicating regularly with residents and will continue to keep everyone updated as the scheme progresses. If anyone has questions or concerns, they can reach out to us directly or speak with a member of the site team – we’re here to help.

“We will be sending out a letter to residents shortly to outline the next steps. We’re committed to moving forward as quickly as possible to deliver much-needed council housing that will benefit the community.”

The site is earmarked for a mixture of two and three-bed homes, with three of the homes designed to meet specific accessibility needs.

Every home will have its own private garden and a parking space with EV charging.

There will be solar panels on the roofs too and the homes are heated with electric panel radiators and a hot water tank powered by an air source heat pump.