Ford, West Sussex
Case Study
Henry Adams advised a consortium of landowners on the long-term promotion, planning and disposal of Ford Airfield. The objective was to secure a major mixed-use allocation and create a structured route to maximise value through planning, promotion and disposal strategy.
Key facts
Project: Ford Airfield
Client: Landowner Consortium
Planning: Mixed-use allocation – up to 1,500 homes
The challenges
Challenges included:
- Complex landownership, requiring collaboration and equalisation agreements
- Long-term planning promotion, securing allocation through the Ford Neighbourhood Plan and Arun Local Plan
- Infrastructure and stakeholder requirements, for a sustainable mixed-use scheme
- Large-scale development risk, with delivery and timing critical to maximising value
A strategic approach was needed to align interests and deliver a commercially viable, plan-compliant scheme.
Our advice
Henry Adams provided:
- Coordination of landowner consortium and development agreements
- Strategic advice on planning promotion and allocation process
- Engagement with Arun District Council and key stakeholders
- Preparation of a marketing and disposal strategy post-permission to maximise land value
Outcome
- Secured planning permission in 2023 for a mixed-use development
- Enabled delivery of up to 1,500 homes, 30% affordable housing, care home, local centre, employment space and primary school
- Facilitated sale to Vistry Group in March 2024. At the time it was one of the largest Neighbourhood Plan allocations in the country and one of the largest land transactions in the region
- Delivered long-term social, economic and environmental benefits for the surrounding area and paving the way for the delivery of a sustainable new community
