The seven-week consultation on the blueprint which could shape the district up to 2026 drew responses from more than 3,000 people.

They replied through letters, questionnaires, an online survey and a residents' panel before the consultation closed last week.

Large-scale housing schemes at Littlehampton, Angmering and in the Barnham area were among the options set out by the district council, together with the Eco-Town development at Ford.

Consultation 'hugely important'

The results of the consultation will be analysed over the next two months, and will then be fed into Arun's key planning document for the future, the draft Local Development Framework, together with other research and data on issues such as housing need and flooding.

Council leader Gill Brown said: "This was a hugely important consultation undertaken by the council to involve residents in vital decisions that will affect us all in the years to come.

"I am pleased that so many people did take the time to give us their views. We now have a big task on our hands analysing that information."

In total around 1,000 letters were received, together with 250 online questionnaires, 448 paper surveys and 988 responses through Arun's residents' panel, Wavelength.

Roadshow visits

Almost 700 people visited a mobile unit which visited Arun's main towns and villages.

Mrs Brown paid tribute to Arun staff who organised the consultation. "There was a vast amount of work that was undertaken by our staff, both in the planning of this big consultation and the execution of it.

"It is one of the most important consultations we have carried out in recent years. Every effort was made all the way through to engage and involve as many of our residents as possible.

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