Dozens of new homes in an eight-storey block of flats are to be built on the site of The Happy Cell in Davigdor Road, Hove.
The fitness studios – in a building which also includes 26 rooms let for emergency accommodation – is to be demolished and replaced by 47 flats.
The current building is four storeys high. It is next to the two-storey Hyde housing association office which is to be replaced by about 70 flats in a nine-storey block. And next to Hyde, permission was granted to put up flats on the Palmer and Harvey (P&H) site.
Brighton and Hove City Council said: “A total of 47 flats would be created on the site of a four-storey building at numbers 121 to 123, which would be demolished.
“It is currently used by a charity, with basement studios for fitness classes and 26 rooms let for emergency accommodation.
“Under the proposals the community facilities would be replaced on-site, with a 115 sq m room.
“The new building would range between five and eight storeys. It would contain 16 one-bed flats, 28 two-bed flats and five with three bedrooms.
“Eight of the flats would be affordable homes aimed at local people on the housing waiting list.
“Basement parking for 15 vehicles would be accessed from adjacent Lyon Close.
“The council has negotiated with developers financial contributions worth £226,000 to improve the locality.
“Just over £27,000 will be spent on transport. The Lyon Close bus stop will get a shelter, seat and real-time information board. There will be a new pedestrian crossing outside and improved walking routes to local schools and St Anne’s Well Gardens.
“The money will also pay for two years’ free Car Club membership for residents in the new flats.
“Developers would pay £100,000 to improve nearby open spaces, sport and recreation, £76,000 for schools, and £23,000 for local employment. At least 20 per cent of construction staff would be local.
“The building would have a two-tone brick finish with large grey windows. There would be 10 new trees with more planting at ground level and on roof terraces on floors five and seven.”
Just over a couple of dozen neighbours wrote to the council to object to the plans which attracted one letter of support.
Objectors said that the proposed building would be too tall, out of scale with other buildings in the area and add to the pressure on school places and local doctors’ surgeries. They also said that employment space would be lost.
The council’s Planning Committee gave permission for the proposal which was submitted by the housebuilding company Crest Nicholson.
Planning Committee chair Councillor Julie Cattell said: “This makes much more efficient use of a scarce site to provide vital new housing. It should also improve the look of a rather untidy street scene in that area.
“We would ideally have liked more affordable homes but the District Valuer concluded that would make the scheme financially unviable.
“Along with the financial contributions we’ve managed to secure, we feel the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.”
A drop in the ocean in terms of the homes needed but a good start none the less. Thousands more homes are needed, we need a proactive house building plan, not NIMBY objections.
These are mostly mind bendingly expensive luxury flats aimed at incomers and investors.
8 shared ownership ‘affordable’ flats but a loss of 26 emergency accommodation rooms
Own goal ‘Emma’. Slogans don’t have quite the one-size-fits-all usefulness you counted on here.
‘Valerie’ I’m entitled to my opinion, whether you like it or not, the fact is we need new homes, including for shared ownership. What have you got against first time buyers being able to buy a property? Were you born in Brighton/Hove or are you one of the tens of thousands of ‘incomers’that have made their homes in the city? What do you propose to do, build a moat and pull up the drawbridge?! NIMBY seems to be your slogan of choice.
Where do I find out how much they will cost? Given their location they will be good for commuters. But it’s not a seafront location or like the site of the flats overlooking the cricket ground which command a premium price.
My main concern is the loss of the emergency accommodation. We need more homes but it’s a pity they’ll be built at the expense of a place to stay for people who are desperate and destitute.
It’s also a pity there will only be eight affordable flats. We need new homes but more needs to be done to provide for those who struggle to provide for themselves.
Now now Valerie Paynter. People can have another view to your own. It is allowed you know. Don’t just put them down in your high handed manner.
What will BHCC do to replace the 26 emergency accommodation rooms (which are often used long-term? Pay shed loads of money for tired, dirty bedsits to private landlords who provide accommodation that is of a dismal standard that no-one would chose to live in…That really is progress…… Ittime things changed.
We need social housing. Even first time buyers need a big deposit. What is an affordable home in hove? Same as in Brighton over priced.
And will any of these new affordable homes be wheelchair accessible, given the shortage of suitable houses? It’s a perfect opportunity to create from scratch, it’s in a level ground area and given the proximity to good local services including the Charter Medical Centre and recreation, plus bus route, and parking availability, it would be a good site for tenants needing a fully accessible home.
Your query would make a good petition subject or public question for a council meeting to help flag the issue.
Most newbuild is constructed to so-called “Lifetime Homes” standard, which means wheelchair accessible. Sadly the standard takes no account of need for daylight by ageing or disabled eyes which mostly also means windowless bathrooms and kitchen areas (few actual kitchens).