Rosemead Garden is a contemporary residential community in Littlehampton, West Sussex — built on land between The Littlehampton Academy and Rosemead Park. The estate sits on what was formerly the site of two schools, and is now home to a collection of modern houses and flats, thoughtfully designed to combine quality, comfort and a sense of community.

The estate consists of two main streets — Andrew Cairns Drive and Maud Allan Way — named in tribute to the schools that once stood here — plus the Cann Lilly Apartments. At its heart lies a communal garden and shared green spaces, creating a pleasant environment where neighbours can meet and children can play.

History of the Site

Before Rosemead Garden was built, the land formed part of the old campus of Littlehampton Community School, later known as The Littlehampton Academy. The school had served the town for decades, but by the late 2000s its buildings were ageing and no longer suitable for modern teaching.

In 2010 the Academy moved into a brand-new, purpose-built facility next door. Once the new campus opened, the former school buildings on this site were vacated and later demolished, leaving the land ready for redevelopment.

The estate’s two streets — Andrew Cairns Drive and Maud Allan Way — take their names from the former schools on the site that merged to become Littlehampton Community School, preserving a connection to the site’s educational past. The transformation from school grounds to a modern neighbourhood continues the area’s long history of community use, now in a new and vibrant form.

The Development

The development was delivered by BoKlok Housing Ltd, a home-builder with roots in Sweden. BoKlok was originally jointly owned by Skanska and IKEA, combining Skanska’s construction expertise with IKEA’s design and furnishing sensibility.  

BoKlok’s philosophy is to provide high-quality, sustainable homes at competitive prices, using modern methods of construction. In practice this means many elements are prefabricated off-site — which tends to reduce construction waste, speed up build time, and limit disruption to the local area.  

When BoKlok submitted the planning application for the site the proposal envisaged around 112 new homes, along with well-landscaped open spaces and a landscaped “green heart” to preserve green space and deliver community-oriented public realm.  

The homes — a mix of two- and three-bedroom family houses plus apartments . Every home was fitted with modern, energy-efficient features to help reduce both upfront and ongoing costs for residents.  

From the outset, BoKlok emphasised community: the design hinged around shared green spaces and landscaped public areas, intending to create a friendly, neighbourly atmosphere rather than just another housing estate.