Chichester District Council To Hand Nearly £1 Million To Developer for 19 ‘Affordable’ Homes

Chichester District Council has agreed to provide £950,000 of public money to Worthing Homes to help build 19 so-called affordable homes in North Mundham — a move that is already raising eyebrows among some local residents.

The funding, approved during a full council meeting on Tuesday 23 September, comes from £417,000 of the general reserve and £533,000 in commuted sums — money paid by developers and ring-fenced for affordable housing.

Worthing Homes will contribute around £4 million to the scheme, with an additional £1 million being sought from Homes England.

The new homes will include 13 for social rent and six for shared ownership, initially prioritised for parish residents on the housing register.

Currently, there are just nine North Mundham residents on that register, meaning the majority of the district could eventually benefit.

Lib Dem councillor David Betts described the project as a lifeline for locals struggling to stay in the area:

“It gives hope to local residents on the register to remain living in the area where they were brought up and where it is very often very difficult to even think about buying a house.”

Cabinet member Oona Hickson highlighted the council’s wider strategy:

“The delivery of affordable homes is a key corporate objective… Having a secure and permanent home is vital for individuals to fulfil their potential and improve life outcomes.”

However, critics may question the use of public funds to support a registered developer, and the scheme will not go ahead unless all external funding is secured, leaving its future uncertain.