A partnership approach with strong community involvement has created a high-quality new housing scheme, which adds positively to Arundel’s setting, bringing ecological enhancements, and, providing long-term stewardship.

 

In a town with above average house prices and rents, the project delivered the first new general-needs social housing for Arundel since the 1970s. Local Lettings Plans enabled people with local connections to remain in the community when they otherwise might have moved away

 

The project was shortlisted for the 2026 CPRE (Council for Preservation of Rural England)’s Centenary Awards in ‘best housing solution’ category.

 

 

Community involvement

 

Arundel Gate was the outcome of many years of Neighbourhood Planning and community engagement. Following the Localism Act 2011, Arundel Town Council, supported by Action in rural Sussex, consulted extensively with residents leading to the adoption of Arundel’s first Neighbourhood Plan in 2014. The Neighbourhood Plan was reviewed in 2018–19 to meet updated housing targets and strengthen heritage protections.

 

The Arundel Gate site emerged through the Neighbourhood Planning process as a suitable housing allocation. Compared with other sites identified, the lower grade agricultural land off Ford Road owned by the Norfolk Estate, had sufficient scale to deliver affordable housing, much needed in a town where rising house prices and rents were forcing locals to move away.

 

The landowner’s commitment to reduce the scale of the development and involve a Community Land Trust in delivering the affordable homes helped secure local backing with the 2019 Neighbourhood Plan referendum having 80% support.

 

Arundel CLT was set up as a direct result of the site allocation for Arundel Gate. The CLT was actively involved through the Outline and Reserved Matters planning stages, checking the details in the Neighbourhood Plan were being implemented, helping residents understand the proposals, feeding back local concerns, and, countering misinformation.

 

Arundel Gate is the first community led rented housing scheme to be delivered by a local Community Land Trust in the Arun District.

 

For more information abuot the planning history for Arundel Gate see our Ford Road Project Planning Page.

 

 

Affordable homes

 

Of the 90 homes at Arundel Gate, 27 are Affordable: 20 Social Rent and 7 Shared Ownership.

 

Arundel CLT worked with the Sussex Community Housing Hub, Arun District Council and housing association, the Aster Group, to prepare Local Lettings Agreements for both tenures.

 

As freehold owner, Arundel CLT’s asset lock secures the 20 Social Rent homes for the community in perpetuity. The CLT has a lease with Aster, a Registered Provider of Affordable Housing, to manage and maintain these properties. A ground rent ensures a long-term revenue for the CLT, available to be re-invested into other community benefit projects for the Parish.

 

The Residents’ Management Company is responsible for the open spaces and unadopted estate roads. Aster hold the 27 votes for the affordable homes. Tenants have the right to be involved in general meetings of the Management Company.

 

A legally binding formula based on property size, rather than dwelling numbers, limits the service charges for the affordable homes to 18.57% of the total.

 

 

Landscape and open spaces

 

Half of the development site was allocated for more biodiverse open spaces, habitat creation, drainage features and enhancements to the Public Rights of Way network. Nature-friendly and biodiversity measures include retained tree lines and hedgerows, new and replacement planting, bat, bird and barn owl boxes, log piles and permeable boundaries for small mammals.

 

Surface water management is embedded within the landscape design, integrating drainage with open space and green corridors, supporting biodiversity, visual amenity, environmental performance and the scheme’s wider ‘Building with Nature’ ambitions.

 

The site is within 30 minutes’ walk of two railway stations, with bus services 10–15 minutes away. All homes have EV charging points. The layout further supports low-carbon travel by improving walking, cycling and riding links.

 

A new public bridleway connects the South Downs landscape to the river corridor and improves access to woods, countryside and the wider town.

 

 

Sustainable construction

 

The housebuilder, Esquire Developments Ltd. adopted a ‘Fabric First’ approach to carbon efficiency, selecting materials carefully and working with locally sourced suppliers.

 

From the earliest design stages, climate change, energy performance and long-term resilience were central considerations. The scheme demonstrates that sustainability depends on combining modern standards, careful technical coordination and practical low-carbon measures.

 

All homes include air source heat pumps, EV charging points and EPC B ratings, helping reduce operational carbon emissions and lower running costs.

 

By embedding these features across the whole development, rather than treating them as optional extras, Arundel Gate delivers a consistent environmental standard throughout.