Shoreham: Site of demolished former council HQ sold for £6m

Adur District Council says it will raise £6m from the site of its demolished HQ in Shoreham

The site of a demolished former civic centre in West Sussex has been sold.

The £6m raised by the sale of land formerly used as Adur Civic Centre in Shoreham will free up funds to invest for the community, the council said.

The Hyde Group is to build 159 homes on the land - enough for 470 people.

The new homes will be affordable, with more than 50 for social rent, Adur District Council said, adding that income from the sale would not be used for day-to-day council activity.

A council spokesperson said it "will now consider whether to use the funds to reduce the cost of one or more of our ongoing projects for the community or to invest them to generate income to support frontline services".

The authority said it had worked with the developers and community to create "plans for the site that will provide a large amount of affordable housing without damaging the character of the area".

Initial proposals for the site would have resulted in a large grey poplar tree having to be cut down.

A tree preservation order has been served and confirmed to protect it.