Estee Lauder redesigns Brighton shop doorway to banish rough sleepers

Cosmetics business Estee Lauder plans to redesign a Brighton shop doorway so that it can’t be used by rough sleepers.

The company also hopes that the new design will create a more fragrant entrance to the premises by preventing “late night revellers” from using it as a “latrine”.

A planning application indicates that the company is moving its MAC Cosmetics shop from Duke’s Lane to the East Street premises currently occupied by the Coast clothes shop.

Planning agent Matthew Black, from Lambert Smith Hampton, of Oxford Street, London, wrote to Brighton and Hove City Council on behalf of Estee Lauder.

Mr Black said: “The recessed doorway has caused issues in the past encouraging rough sleepers to bed down.”

He added: “Late night revellers have used the space as a makeshift latrine.”

Mr Black said: “The applications … represent an improvement on the existing situation. The existing shopfront is considered to be of little or no architectural merit.

“This application proposes to square off the shopfront to be in line with the shopfronts on adjacent properties.

“The proposed alterations will have a positive impact on the character and appearance of the building and the wider Old Town Conservation Area.”

The council is expected to make a decision on whether to grant planning permission by Friday 17 July.