Vistry, the UK’s leading provider of mixed-tenure homes, together with large housing provider Abri, has received approval from Arun District Council to deliver a total of 698 high-quality mixed-tenure homes, alongside extensive infrastructure, at the former Ford Airfield site in West Sussex.
These applications form part of the wider masterplan led by the partnership for the site at Ford Airfield – a new neighbourhood which will provide around 1,500 high-quality new homes including a significant percentage of affordable housing for local people, a new primary school, care home and local centre as well as an extensive range of transport and community infrastructure and a variety of green spaces. Of the total number of homes being delivered at the site, 960 of these will be in a Joint Venture with Abri.
The delivery partners submitted three separate Reserved Matters planning applications to Arun District Council and has received approval for all three to provide the following:
- Reserved Matters 1 (RM1 - North): 341 mixed-tenure homes, comprising:
- 239 homes for private sale
- 102 homes (30%) designated as affordable, including a mix of social rent, shared ownership and first homes
- Associated roads, infrastructure, parking, landscaping, and associated works
- Reserved Matters 4 (RM4 - South): 357 mixed-tenure homes, comprising:
- 250 homes for private sale
- 107 homes (30%) designated as affordable, including a mix of social rent, shared ownership and first homes
- 4.29 hectares of Public Open Space including neighbourhood park, footpaths, amenity green space, natural and semi-natural areas
- Community play space including one Local Equipped Area for Play (LEAP) and one Local Area for Play (LAP)
- Associated roads, infrastructure, parking and associated works
- Infrastructure Reserved Matters (IRM):
- Primary spine road connecting Ford Road (north) to Yapton Road (south)
- On and off-site pedestrian and cycleway infrastructure
- The creation of four new bus stops connecting the future local centre, primary school, care home and community facilities
- 7.37 hectares of Public Open Space including footpaths, amenity green space, natural and semi-natural areas
- Community play space including nine LAPs and one LEAP
- Strategic site-wide drainage infrastructure including Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDS) basins, foul sewer infrastructure and pumping stations
- Implementation of ecological enhancement measures
These plans for Ford Airfield are the result of more than a decade of local collaboration. Led by Ford Parish Council and supported by Ford Community Land Trust and additional parish councils and local residents, the vision was first established through the Ford Neighbourhood Plan and subsequently confirmed in the Arun District Plan as a strategic site allocation. Having acquired the former airfield in 2024, Vistry’s ambition is to create an exemplar new neighbourhood that becomes the heart of Ford.
Work on all three of the approved applications is anticipated to start in the second quarter of 2026, with the infrastructure scheduled for completion in 2027, and both housing schemes scheduled for completion in 2029.
Stephen Teagle, Chief Executive of Countryside Partnerships, part of Vistry, said: “This is a huge milestone for the delivery of Vistry’s blueprint for a new neighbourhood in Ford. It will transform the former airfield into a thriving community which provides the mix of housing that residents need, alongside the infrastructure to support its sustained long-term growth. Reaching this point is testament to the unwavering support from our valued partners at the Ford Community Land Trust, and the local parish councils and residents who’ve continued to share our vision for the scheme over the last ten years, and to our collaboration with Abri in bringing forward high-quality affordable homes as part of this joint venture.”
Gary Orr, Group Chief Executive of Abri said: “Securing planning permission for hundreds of new homes marks a pivotal step towards creating a vibrant new community at Ford Airfield. Working in partnership with Vistry, we’re proud to be shaping a place that combines affordable housing with the infrastructure and amenities communities need to thrive. This represents another important step towards Abri’s ambition to continue investing in more much-needed and high-quality homes – a goal we plan to make bolder strides towards in our new 2026–2031 corporate strategy.”
A representative from the Ford Community Land Trust (CLT) added: “Securing affordable homes that will remain affordable forever is a huge achievement. These homes will make a real difference to local families and ensure the benefits of this development stay within the community.
“The CLT board – made up of locally elected people – will ensure ongoing local influence and accountability. A locally driven allocation policy will prioritise local people, while ground rent will help fund the community hub, supporting its long-term sustainability. This is a critical foundation for building a cohesive, thriving and truly sustainable new community. This approval demonstrates how long-term commitment, partnership working and local leadership can deliver much-needed homes in a way that reflects the priorities of the community.”
A representative of Ford Parish Council said: “This decision reflects years of hard work by local people who wanted to take control of the future of this site. It shows that neighbourhood planning can genuinely shape development in the interests of the community. It is also a lasting testament to the vision and commitment of the late Trevor Ford.”