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
- 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.
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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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The Co-op department store has been earmarked for a Tesco superstore
Will this mean demolition and rebuilding with a large car park, or will the present building be converted? It is hard to imagine that Tesco would be content with the tiny Co-op car park on the site of Oxford Court. Indeed St James Investments, the developer, has said that sufficient car parking would be needed to make the area (I think they mean a Tesco superstore) financially viable.
How many spaces is 'sufficient' car parking? How will London Road, already congested, cope with the extra traffic which would be generated?
The developer could make a real contribution to the area by helping the Open Market to carry out its own planned regeneration scheme.
The Brighton Society looks forward to visiting the website (which will go live in April or May) when a public exhibition will be held. 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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The Bishop of Chichester has written to the Church Commissioners in London to confirm the proposal to make St Peter's church redundant.
The Commissioners completed a period of consultation on the matter until 19 December 2007. In order for objections to have been valid they must have stressed the pastoral need for the church.
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 decision is not now expected before April.
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 whch 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 pemission 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: planning application no BH2007/02926.
Victory!
The planning applications sub-committee of the Council unanimously agreed with the recommendation of their officers and refused permission for a large block of flats to replace the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital.
Taylor Wimpey have threatened to appeal against this decision.
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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 has decided to fund the restoration of the bandstand itself. An architect has been appointed to supervise the work.
- A planning application will be submitted later this year.
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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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