Two more student halls to be built at Falmer campus

Planning permission has been granted to build two student halls of residence at the Sussex University campus in Falmer.

The university initially applied to put up three buildings on the land between Lewes Court and Northfield.

It amended its plans after concerns were raised during the consultation period, settling for two buildings instead.

One of them is three storeys high and the other four storeys. They will contain bedrooms for 148 students and parking for 72 bicycles.

The new buildings form the final phase of the Northfield scheme which will include a total of 1,105 student bedrooms.

The scheme is part of a strategy by the university to try to house 40 per cent of students in university-managed housing.

In turn this is expected to reduce the number of family houses in Brighton being let to students, freeing them up for others in need of housing.

Permission for the scheme was granted by Brighton and Hove City Council Planning Committee on Wednesday (18 July).

A report to the committee said that a small part of the land sits within the boundary of the South Downs National Park.

The site had previously been designated for university use and will be landscaped with the student digs being set into the existing slope to minimise its impact on the surrounding area.

Councillor Christopher Hawtree, chairman of the planning committee, said: “We are pleased that this development will give many more university students the opportunity to live on campus particularly during their first year.

“This will be beneficial to the students as they familiarise themselves with their new surroundings, but also to the city as a whole as it frees up other accommodation.

“We are satisfied that the design of the new housing blocks will have minimal impact on the adjoining national park and will be enhanced by the proposed landscaping and habitat creation and management plan.”