American Express—Application to Build New Office Blocks

AMERICAN EXPRESS AND CARLTON HILL

It was announced on 5 July 2010 that a fire had broken out in the church of St John the Evangelist on Carlton Hill and it appears to have been quite seriously damaged. It is thought that the fire was started deliberately. The church has been used for many years by the Greek Orthodox church.

American Express have received planning permission (application no. BH2009/01477) to build new office blocks on Carlton Hill, Mighell and John Streets: of 5-9 storeys, including 2 basement floors, 106 car parking and 132 cycle parking spaces.

The application does not show clearly enough the impact of this development would have on the neighbouring Carlton Hill Conservation Area, which includes the listed Mighell Street farmhouse (pictured below), the listed church St John the Evangelist and the listed Tilbury Place. We were concerned about the overshadowing of these tall office blocks on the playground of Carlton Hill School. However the school has been awarded  £300,000 under a Section 106 Agreement to relocate its playgound.

The Brighton Society welcomes very considerable improvements to the Amex proposal. Although the main building is still built right up the the edge of the pavement of Carlton Hill, considerable articulation and detailing of the facades has been introduced, with less impact than a slab block.

The windowless ‘information’ building has been set into the ground and provided with windows, giving it a friendlier feel.

The Council will of course welcome the securement of existing employment opportunities offered by American Express.

MIGHELL STREET The Brighton Society is particularly concerned about 33 Mighell Street, a Georgian farmhouse, which is in poor condition. Two thirds of the building is owned by American Express, and one third by the owner of Thwaites Garage. We would hope that American Express could aquire the ownership of the whole building, restore it and use it for some human activity, perhaps as a social club for Amex employees, as well as making it available for nearby residents on occasions.