West Sussex County Council leader Henry Smith has warned that there is a major risk to the economy and environment of the county if massive extra housing is not properly supported by key infrastructure – such as roads, schools, hospitals, water supplies and public transport.

Proposed government changes to the South East Plan claim that 74,600 homes should be built in West Sussex by 2026.

That compares with the 64,100 recommended by the independent panel that carried out an inquiry into the South East Plan, the draft of which contained proposals for 58,000 homes.

However, almost all of the extra 10,000 homes in the latest report are listed to be built in the Shoreham Harbour after it was announced last week it had been made a 'growth point' area.

There has been a reduction in the number of homes due to be built elsewhere in the Adur district outside of Shoreham Harbour, but a 2,000 homes increase for Mid-Sussex.

Mr Smith said: "The county council is prepared to support the Shoreham Harbour development, but only if it is fully accompanied by all the necessary infrastructure and is environmentally acceptable.

"I still believe that the housing figures for West Sussex are far too high because this figure is unsustainable, and with market conditions as they are at the moment there must be serious doubts about delivering this challenging figure.

"The county council is not opposed to new housing. Our position has always been that we need to strike the right balance between the needs of our residents, economy and preserving the very special environment of West Sussex.

"We believe the best way to achieve the right balance of housing need is to allow communities to plan for their own futures and not have remote, top-down numbers imposed on them."

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