Plans to build over 460 new homes in West Sompting have been given the go-ahead.

Members of Adur District Council's Planning Committee gave the green light to the development, to be built by Persimmon Homes, after negotiations between the builder and council officers to enhance the design of the development. The discussions also secured the necessary infrastructure improvements including the provision of 30 per cent of the building as affordable rented accommodation to meet the needs of the District.

In addition the developer will pay the Council more than £2m to help build a new primary school at New Monks Farm, £1.7 million for transport infrastructure including traffic calming measures, cycle links to Worthing, and bus subsidy contributions.

Two football pitches and a small car park and a community orchard and a community farm will also be created. In addition the Cokeham Brooks Local Wildlife Site is to be extended. An off site contribution to build new changing rooms at Sompting Recreation Ground will also be secured as part of the development.

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The application site comprises approximately 30 hectares of land situated north and south of West Street currently used for agricultural fields. The residential development will occur in two separate areas, one to the south of West Street and west of Loose Lane; the other to the north of West Street, accessed off Dankton Lane.

Almost 100 of the houses will be built in the first stage including 37 two-bed homes, 40 three-bed and 17 four-bed.

Adur District Council's Executive Member for Regeneration, Cllr Brian Boggis, said: "I'd like to thank the members of the Planning Committee for their diligence on this matter and for our planning officers for the negotiations which have led to this outcome, particularly the 30 per cent affordable figure which is 140 dwellings.

"We all know there is great housing need in our area but the task is to ensure we can meet this need from local people while making development sympathetic to the area and secure investment from developers for infrastructure such as schools, road improvements and green spaces. This we have done."

The application also includes proposals for the change of use of land south of Test Road, to the south west of the proposed residential development, to form a community farm. The aim is to provide facilities for volunteers and visitors including a small scale café farm shop and training education and welfare facilities, plus a nature trail and links to the EPIC site further south. The farm is to be provided by the Sompting Estate with its partner charity Sustainable Sussex. EPIC (Enhancing Places, Inspiring Communities) is a partnership between Sompting Estate and the Ouse & Adur Rivers Trust, aiming to involve the community in bringing a new watercourse, walks and wildlife into Sompting's Church Farm.