Plans lodged for airfield redevelopment

Plans have been submitted for a major development at the former Ford Airfield in West Sussex which was a Battle of Britain base.The outline application is seeking permission for 1,500 new homes as part of a neighbourhood plan.In addition to the homes, the development proposals include a new primary school, provision for a care home, a local centre with retail units, open space, allotments, play spaces, further football pitches to complement the retained Arun Sports Arena and Childrens Flying Fortress family entertainment centre.A second application to enhance the facilities for the car boot sales and farmers markets has also been submitted.The 900-plus-acre-site includes a mixture of agricultural land and the former historic Ford airbase. As it currently exists the airfield effectively bisects the parish.Following a local referendum on the Ford Neighbourhood Plan in November 2018, a broader masterplan and application has been developed in conjunction with the local community by Wates Developments and Redrow Homes.