Major housing construction goes ahead in Chichester

Plans to transform West Sussex army barracks in Chichester

into a housing development have been backed by Chichester District Council.

Major developers Zero C have had their proposals to carry

out work on constructing 252 homes on the site of the Roussilon barracks

approved by the council. As part of the agreement, Zero C have agreed that 40%

of the new homes will be of affordable tenure. They have also agreed to make

financial contributions towards local schools and infrastructure.

Phase 1 of the development is expected to have 50 homes

including 39 two, three and four bedroom homes and 11 apartments. Site preparation

work on the project will begin later this month with construction scheduled to

commence early in June this year and the first properties to be completed in

Spring 2012.

Chichester District Council had to sanction the scheme in

November last year, subject to agreeing and signing a Section 106 legal

agreement which has now all been finalised.

Zero C director Hugo Reeve has said: “We are delighted to

now be in a position to actually deliver a high quality and sustainable new

neighbourhood, which will reconnect a previously closed area back into the

surrounding community, whilst resecting its military and local heritage.”

What do you think of these major plans being finalised? A

similar project began last September in Haywards Heath involving 187 new homes

being constructed. One thing this inevitably results in is more construction jobs

in the city. What does it all mean for you? Do you think the military history

of the site is being forgotten? Or maybe it is purely good news that more homes

are being made available in the city? Let us know what you think.