WELCOME
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THE BRIGHTON SOCIETY aims to conserve and improve the amenities of Brighton & Hove.
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We encourage the preservation of architecturally and historically interesting buildings with their particular look and feel....
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... In the past we helped to save Brighton Station and the Parochial Offices, and opposed the demolition of 700 houses for the construction of an elevated road through North Laine..
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LATEST NEWS —
- VARNDEAN COLLEGE
- LONDON ROAD REGENERATION SCHEME
- ST PETER'S CHURCH
- BRIGHTON MARINA
- ROYAL ALEXANDRA CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
- FOREDOWN TOWER
- BUSBY PLAQUE
- KING ALFREDTHE BIRDCAGE BANDSTAND 193 HAVELOCK ROAD
- BRIGHTON & HOVE BOARD SCHOOLS
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Plans for complete demolition of this imposing building are being drawn up by Nightingale Associates, architects based in Hove.
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The Brighton Society has written to the architects asking them to consider retaining the existing building, particularly the impressive facade which is visible right across the London Road valley, and the dramatic cloisters.
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We have suggested that if the College requires extra space that additional buildings could be added in the spacious grounds.
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Complete demolition would be totally disruptive for the students, some of whom would spend their entire sixth form years in portacabins.
- Unfortunately no reply to our letter to the architects has been received, and the committee of the Twentieth Century Society did not feel able to support our request for listing.
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The Learning & Skills Council, who would fund the scheme, have written to the Brighton Society to say that they do not insist on new buildings, and quote BHASVIC as an example where existing buildings are being utilised.
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LONDON ROAD REGENERATION SCHEME
- St James's Investments plan to build a department store at the north end of the western side of London Road for a Tesco superstore
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This will involve some demolition and rebuilding with a large underground car park with 8-900 spaces. St James Investments has said that sufficient car parking would be needed to make the area (they may mean a Tesco department store) financially viable.
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How will London Road, already congested, cope with the extra traffic which would be generated, or will the traffic be routed around the back of the Tesco store up Providence Place or Elder Place?
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The developer could make a real contribution to the area by helping the Open Market to carry out its own planned regeneration scheme.
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The Brighton Society has put its comments on the St James's Investments website. Another public exhibition with further details of their scheme will be held in the winter. We look forward to participating in "an open and honest public consultation, which helps guide proposals for the area", and we hope will provide a genuine opportunity to influence those proposals.
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St James's Investments has already made a significant capital investment in the area acquiring Circus Parade, Vantage Point and several small shops in London Road, so they must be confident that their plan, in some form, will be granted permision.
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Brighton & Hove City Council is preparing a master plan, and they have produced an Issues and Options Study, which can be downloaded from the Council's website.
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The Bishop of Chichester has written to the Church Commissioners in London to confirm the proposal to make St Peter's church redundant.
More objections were received by the Commissioners than they have received for the closure of any other church. In view of the number of objections the Commissioners are reconsidering their decision to declare the church redundant.
The Brighton Society felt that their role was to campaign for the building to be retained. The Society had no objection for the church to be retained as place of worship, or for it to be used for other appropriate uses.
The problem is to find a use which will provide enough funding to repair and maintain the church.
One proposal is to build a loop of houses around the west, north and east sides of the grass area north of the church, on the lines of Park Crescent. This would provide sufficient funds both to repair the church and to provide for its future maintenance. Unfortunately the church sold this land to the Council some years ago.
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BRIGHTON MARINA EXPLORE LIVING SCHEME
A plan has been submitted to build a larger Asda store, with a restaurant on the ground floor and 764 flats in a tower above.
It includes demolition of the petrol filling station and its replacement with 148 flats, demolition of McDonalds to create an enlarged drive-thru restaurant and 233 flats above, demolition of the estates office to create 35 flats, demolition of the eastern end of the multi-storey car park to create a petrol filling station; a total of 1,294 flats in addition to the 800 odd flats which already have permission on the seaward end of the Marina.
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ROYAL ALEXANDRA CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
Taylor Wimpey plan to demolish this distinguished building which makes such an important contribution to the townscape of the Montpelier area. A new planning application has been registered.
Although Taylor Wimpey are appealing against the refusal of their first planning application they have now released plans for a new scheme, plan no: BH2008/02095, demolition of all existing buildings and erection of 151 flats, a GP surgery, a pharmacy and a public garden.
To view the plans visit www.brighton-hove.gov.uk or the City Direct Offices at Hove Town Hall.
Deadline for comments and objections is 9 September 08 and should be addresses to The Manager, Development Control, Environment, Hove Town Hall, Norton road, Hove BN3 3BQ.
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As a result of a public outcry Foredown Tower appears to have been saved, at least for another year.
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The Brighton Society has recently donated £50 towards the cost of the C A Busby plaque.
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On 28 September 2007, the City's Mayor, Councillor Carol Theobald, unveiled a commemorative plaque to the architect Charles A Busby at 2 Lansdowne Place, Hove, the house where he lived and worked for many years
and contributed so much to the City's Regency architecture we prize today. The unveiling was attended by members of the Council's Commemorative Plaque Panel on which the Brighton Society is represented. The cost was met by the
City Council with contributions from the Brighton Society and other local amenity societies. - . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Unfortunately planning permission has now been granted for this hideous scheme.
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This will result in serious overshadowing of St Aubyns Mansions and the buildings on the Kingsway.
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The City Council is funding the restoration of the bandstand.
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Success after decades of campaigning! Listed Building Consent for the restoration of the bandstand has been granted, and Brighton-based architects DRP have been appointed to lead the project.
The application includes change of use of the ground floor from public conveniences to a café. The bandstand itself will be restored for concerts and other events, and the surrounding area will be landscaped. The planning application has now been granted.
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Is this the right design for a house in Havelock Road?
The Brighton Society leafleted 120 neighbouring houses asking residents to comment on this planning application, both because of its design and its impact on its neigbour 191 Havelock Road.
Victory!
On 5 March 08 Brighton & Hove Council Planning Applications Sub-committee agreed with the recommendations of its officers and refused permission for this house.
Apart from objections from the Brighton and the Preston & Old Patcham Societies there were 26 letters of objection from local residents. A victory of visual judgment over the Design & Conservation section of the Council who welcomed the design of this house.
They said " . . a single dwelling house is considered an opportunity to to enhance the appearance of the conservation area at this prominent location near the junction with Preston Drove. . . the design fits comfortably into the street scene here between different designs of the Havelock Road and Preston Drove properties. The rectangular bay will be a bold feature . . The materials reflect the local context . . "
Can you believe that this comment has come from the Conservation and Design section of the Council?
Fortunately planning officers agreed with the Brighton Society and neighbours and recommended that the planning application sub-committee refuse permission for this hideous house, which they did.
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THE FUTURE OF THE CONNAUGHT CENTRE
The Connaught Centre, Connaught Road, Hove has been a centre of excellence in teaching for adults, and as a community resource, for the past 30 years. City College now intend to sell the site for development, rumoured to be a Tesco petrol filling station.
Please write to: the Director David Smith, Learning & Skills Council, Princes House, 53 Queens Road Brighton BN1 3XB objecting to the loss of educational and community facilities in the west of the city.
The Brighton Society would like to see the building partially used for adult education, and partially converted to flats. There could be further development of housing in the open space around the building.
Another of the Board Schools which is at risk is the Preston Road Board School (above), and City College Gloucester Building, both in Brighton. The Gloucester Building lies within a Conservation Area, as does Connaught Road, so they both enjoy some protection.
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