A third of the homes being built on the former Preston Barracks site will be classed as “affordable”.
It was announced at the Greater Brighton Economic Board in Crawley today (Tuesday 26 March) that the percentage of affordable homes had gone up to 30 per cent.
This is twice as many as the previously agreed 15 per cent and results from a deal between the developer U+I Group and the housing association Optivo.
U+I Group signed a deal with Optivo Housing in February with the latter looking to build 369 homes on the site in Lewes Road, Brighton.
Work is due to start on the blocks of affordable flats later this year and to be completed by 2022.
Brighton and Hove City Council leader Daniel Yates said: “It is really good news. My only concern is the definition of affordable.
“In planning terms affordable means ‘marginally less unaffordable’, with a 20 per cent discount on market rates.”
Councillor Yates added: “This is not really affordable for many people living in the city and people who want to remain living in the city.”
Work is already under way on Scape Student Living’s blocks of 555 student flats as part of the scheme.
The first building is due to be completed by the end of this year and will include work space for start-ups and small firms.
The £300 million Preston Barracks masterplan is intended to establish the stretch of Lewes Road as part of a thriving academic and economic corridor in Brighton.
The economic board was also told that Brighton University’s Central Research Laboratory is part way through construction, with the frame in place and cladding expected to start in the next few months.
Daniel is concerned about “the definition of affordable”. The facts are that modern, complaint, ecologically sound construction is expensive – very expensive. There are no cheap shortcuts. Maybe the council should build homes that fulfil Daniel’s desired definition for affordability… mind you the council spent £250,000 per caravan pitch at the Horsedean travellers site – just goes to show how expensive development really is. I want to live in Mayfair… guess what.. I can’t afford it. Reality check needed buy Labour on housing in a very desirable city. Not cheap. Newhaven, Littlehampton much much cheaper and affordable.