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
- KING ALFREDTHE BIRDCAGE BANDSTAND
- BRIGHTON & HOVE BOARD SCHOOLS
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Plans for complete demolition of this imposing building have been drawn up by Nightingale Associates, architects based in Hove.
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On 26 February 2009 the Planning Committee were 'minded to grant' permission for demolition, and replacement with a new structure . We had campaigned for the retention of the existing building, particularly the impressive facade which is visible right across the London Road valley, and the dramatic cloisters.
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The Brighton Society and the Preston and Old Patcham Society, distributed 3,000 leaflets the surrounding area to alert residents to the proposal.
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The Learning & Skills Council, who were to 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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At the beginning of March the Learning & Skills Council announced that they were not now going to fund any of the Sussex schemes (including Varndean College), because their funding was insufficient to cover such ambitious schemes. It was the LSC which had encouraged colleges to submit these ambitious schemes.
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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 department store, though Tesco have said that they are no longer interested.
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This scheme would involve some demolition and rebuilding with a large underground car park with 900 spaces. St James Investments has said that sufficient car parking would be needed to make the proposal financially viable.
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How will Preston Circus, already congested, cope with the extra traffic which would be generated, or will the traffic be routed around the back of the department store up Providence Place or Elder Place? Perhaps the Council's nearby multi-storey car park could be demolished and replaced with the new underground one.
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The developer could make a real contribution to the area by restoring some of the villas and houses above the shops in London Road, and 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. 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, for some operator, would be granted permission.
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Brighton & Hove City Council have prepared a Supplementary Planning Document, 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 have reconsidered 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.
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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.
The application went before the Planning Committee on 12 December 2008, and was recommended for approval by Council officers, however they were refused by the Committee. The developers are expected to appeal against the refusal.
The plan 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.
Explore Living’s revised planning application with the original. Main changes appear to be as follows:
• Total number of residential units increased from 1294 to 1301
• 17 storey building on McDonalds site lowered to 16 storeys – incorporating a 73 sq m larger drive-through McDonalds
• Massive new Asda superstore to be 3112 sq m larger than the current one (previously 790 sq m larger)
• Total car parking spaces reduced by 19
• Cycle parking capacity increased by 568
• The main features of the development, including the 28-storey tower block, have not changed. This comes after nearly a year of close consultation with council planning officers who, presumably, have been been advising them on what is likely to be acceptable.
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ROYAL ALEXANDRA CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
Taylor Wimpey planned to demolish this distinguished building which makes such an important contribution to the townscape of the Montpelier area.
The planning application to demolish the building and replace it with 149 flats, a GP's surgery and 66 parking spaces was refused by the Planning Committee on 3 December 2008 against the advice of the officers.
Taylor Wimpey appealed against the refusal of their first and second planning applications, both appeals have been dismissed.
The Planning Inquiry was held on 12 - 15 May 2009 at Brighton Town Hall. The council has appointed two consultants: Jack Warshaw (www.capstudios.co.uk), who will be dealing with architecture, design and conservation, and Mike Bleakley, former chief planner at Worthing, who will be dealing with planning issues.
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The Dutch bank ING withdrew their commitment to fund the development.
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"The council did not receive a formal request from Karis/ING to extend the existing Development Agreement which automatically terminated at midnight on 8 November 2008. This now means that the council has no Agreement to deliver any scheme on the King Alfred site with Karis/ING.
It would be the Council’s wish that in looking at new alternatives for this site, we do so with the key amenity societies in the City as well as a range of other stakeholders, such as sports groups and access groups.
As an administration we have not reached any view at the present time about new proposals for the King Alfred/RNR site. It is clear, however, that there will come a time when we will need to bring forward new proposals. The process for doing so will be one we need to consider carefully and approach in a collaborative way." . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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- Success after decades of campaigning! The City Council is funding the restoration of the bandstand.
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Listed Building Consent for the restoration of the bandstand has been granted, Brighton-based architects DRP are leading the project and restoration work is now nearly complete.
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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.
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The bandstand has been cleaned and repainted in its original colours - Brunswick green and cream. The Council have increased their funding to just under £1 million.
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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. It now seems that the Connaught Centre will continue to be used as an adult education centre for at least another five years.
The Brighton society have written to English Heritage requesting that the building be listed. We are still waiting for a decision.
The Brighton Society would like to see the building partially used for adult education, and possibly partially converted to flats. There could be further development of housing in the open space around the building to contribute funding towards the cost of conversion.
Another of the Board Schools which is at risk is the Preston Road Board School (above). Connaught Road also lies within a conservation area, so they both enjoy some protection. Preston Road appears to be still in use, so may not be at immediate risk.
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