The historic market town site project will be delivered in collaboration with Muse’s sister company Lovell Partnerships.

Larksfield Place, as it is now known, is a 18-acre site that received outline planning consent in 2020.

Homes will be set within tree-lined avenues of blue cedars. Of the 260 homes, 91 will be classed as affordable and will be available through shared ownership and affordable rent.

The construction team will also sensitively preserve and convert the 1930s art deco former HQ of Novartis into a collection of flats, with ground floor shops.

Alongside the housing, which is the first part of the development, project partners will focus on the next phase, which will focus on delivering employment space for the town.

Leanne Smith, director of Lovell Southern, said: “We are delighted to be part of this collaborative partnership with Muse and West Sussex County Council, this is an exciting site and project, and further demonstration of Lovell’s long-term commitment to the West Sussex area.”

Should the application receive consent, it is anticipated that the team will start on site in early 2024.