Developer to build 125 homes for rent and shared ownership at Mile Oak site

Clarion Housing Group has taken on the site to the north of Graham Avenue from Crest Nicholson, and said it will build 28 homes for affordable rent and 97 for shared ownership.

Crest had submitted a scheme with 40 per cent affordable homes.

Planning permission was granted for the site in September 2017 despite hundreds of objections from residents over infrastructure concerns.

Clarion said work on the first homes will get underway this summer and the project will be completed in May 2022.

Plans also include widening the roundabout on Fox Way, a new footway on Mile Oak Road and new cycle routes to the surrounding area.

Philip Browne, new business and partnerships director for Clarion Housing Group, said: “We are pleased to be delivering 125 much-needed affordable homes in Portslade.

“At Clarion we aim to deliver 50,000 new homes over ten years. To make this happen we are building valued relationships with developers, like Thakeham Client, who share our passion for placemaking and quality.

“This scheme further underlines our commitment to delivering high-quality homes in Sussex and the surrounding areas.”

Clarion Housing Group is a social landlord with 125,000 homes across the country.

It bought the Mile Oak site late last year and has appointed Thakeham Client Ltd to build the development.

The contract awarded to Thakeham Client has a value of £24 million, the largest contract awarded in Thakeham’s history.

Thakeham Client managing director Steve Tuhey said: “This is the largest scheme that we have ever been awarded. We have already worked closely with Clarion on other developments in Elstead and Herstmonceux. Clarion is one of the largest housing providers in the country and we’re looking forward to working with them in Portslade over the next three years.”