Two hundred student flats in three buildings up to six storeys high have been approved on a site in Hollingdean Road, Brighton.
The plans involve demolishing buildings which are derelict, decrepit or in a state of bad state of disrepair.
Objections were submitted by dozens of people living near the site, which also involves demolishing a property in Freehold Terrace.
The scheme also includes a proposal to build eight homes which Brighton and Hove City Council class as “affordable”.
At a meeting of the council’s Planning Committee at Hove Town Hall this afternoon (Wednesday 10 December) a member of the Coombe Road Area Local Action Team (LAT) spoke for objectors.
Caroline Lynch spoke about “the impact on local amenity, the complete lack of parking provision, the impact on travel services and infrastructure … that we cannot sustain up the Lewes Road due to the massive increases in the density of people living in student houses already”.
She criticised “the cumulative impact of allowing larger developments like this”.
And she highlighted plans “half a mile away (for) another 1,000 bed spaces at Preston Barracks” and “another 150 or so on the Vogue Gyratory”.
She added: “How is a community supposed to maintain its cohesion and sustainability when the council supports such developments?”
She said that the concentration of students had prompted specific policy changes intended to curb the problem, adding: “Perhaps the council believe that as these areas are already over-concentrated, it does not matter to keep filling them up.
“If this planning application is approved today, the people of East Brighton will know for sure that their areas, having already been decimated by the conversion of family housing, are also up for sale to any developer.
“The reality is we will continue to have these issues and the housing crisis in this city until the universities take responsibility for housing their own existing students and the 10,000 new ones that will be in the city in four years’ time.
“If the universities are not prepared to house their own students, then Brighton council needs to tell the universities to do so.
“The city is full.”
A solicitor, Peter Rainier, the director of planning at law firm DMH Stallard, said that there was considerable need for student accommodation in Brighton.
He said that it was preferable to provide purpose-built accommodation than see more family homes converted into shared houses for students.
Well somebody has got it wrong on a couple of details is it the Argus or Brighton and Hove News.Although it is rather late in the Day at least the construction of purpose built Accommodation seems to be gathering momentum.I still cannot understand why the Council turned down the Application to build on Campus at Sussex Uni.The City Planners have made a pigs ear of sorting the development process out.
Great; more accommodation for immature, selfish, brat students to blast-out music, dump rubbish, engage in anti-social behaviour and make hard-working residents lives an absolute misery.
Yet another nail in the Green Councils coffin…
Great, more students to make our City more packed than it already is, I’m 22 years old and I’ve lived in Brighton all my life. I used to love it but I hate it now. All Brighton council care about are stupid students.
Enough is enough
Brighton council as usual bending over backwards to be seen as student friendly and trendy. Remember who pays their council tax. Us residents thats who. We want our communities back.
Hello As a local resident i have no objection to a building of 3 /4 stories ( no higher )
However can the council put pressure on pavilion letting agency to clean up their act .
They are a disgrace to the area .
I would much prefer well maintained specialised accommodation fit for students , with a good communal area with sympathetic appearance and planting and parking inside for bikes etc . ..I hope it will
Make the disgusting agencies fold .
The eye sores opposite are the real disgrace .