Neighbours are objecting to plans to build four blocks of flats which would be truly affordable to working people on low wages from the local area.
The plans have been submitted by the joint venture between Brighton and Hove City Council and Hyde Housing.
The joint venture, known as Homes for Brighton and Hove, wants to build six blocks of flats on land east of Coldean Lane, with two seven-storey blocks and four six-storey buildings.
The 250 homes would include a mix of flats for shared ownership and flats for rent on the nine-acre site.
A mix of one, two and three-bed homes are planned, with 162 car parking spaces, including 10 visitor spaces, as well as 365 cycle parking spaces.
Landscaping plans includes wildlife areas and adventure playgrounds for children.
Currently 44 comments objecting to the plans from neighbours have been left on the council website as well as two comments supporting the scheme.
Concerns include the impact on wildlife and trees as well as the spread of shared houses for students – also known as houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) – in Coldean and the wider area.
An anonymous comment on the website said: “In these so-called days of green development this is contra to all the council’s policy.
“The area in question is already vastly over-developed and over-populated, especially HMOs.
“The roads cannot cope with extra traffic. This is not only sheer greed of developers. It is a tragedy in waiting to further ruin the environment and another green space lost forever.”
Another anonymous commenter said: “More valuable land used by our precious wildlife would be lost if this building development proceeds.
“Badgers, other mammals, reptiles, birds and insects will lose their homes due to this development. Build in the city if these homes are needed. Leave the wildlife in peace.”
Other neighbours are concerned about the size and look of the buildings. Another anonymous commenter said: “In scale, they match the projects of South Bronx.
“They have inner-city ghetto writ large all over them. Except they are not in the inner city. They are as far out of the city as it is possible to go.”
Another comment said: “This is a poorly designed scheme which lacks character. It over-develops the site without appropriate consideration of context or its inhabitants. It does not contribute to the development of sustainable neighbourhoods.”
A similar scheme by Homes for Brighton and Hove for a site in Whitehawk next to several existing blocks of flats was scrapped after opposition.
There is support from the Brighton Society as its members think that the plans make good use of a triangular patch of land.
The society said: “The six apartment blocks seem to be sensitively located to take good advantage of a triangular sloping site and to be pleasant in appearance.
“We welcome the preservation of the footpath up to the footbridge into Stanmer woods, the retention of existing mature trees and the provision of amenity and play spaces.
“We would support the formation of a roundabout at the junction of Hawkhurst Road and Coldean Lane to ease traffic flow on a busy narrow road.”
Details of the application can be seen by searching for BH2018/03541 at planningapps.brighton-hove.gov.uk.
I bet they’ll all moan when their children are forced to move to somewhere where rents and prices are cheaper like Hastings or Portsmouth.
Oops before everyone takes time out to comment on my grammatical or spelling errors -should read there and not their. Any others spotted – sorry
It appears that one is not allowed to raise concerns or opposition to anything in Brighton anymore without someone feeling it necessary to belittle your views.
Well here’s a radical idea – Close one of the Universities. This will help towards addressing housing shortages, noise & anti social behaviour, congestion, over development of the City and so much more. I know their may be some negative result re employment however I think the positives outweigh this.
Sussex University site at Falmer would make a great Hospital Site with better road, rail & even helicopter access.
Brighton University sites could also prove to be ideal for considerate commercial development.
Clearly you have not bothered to look at how the courses are very very different between the two establishments. They actually overlap very well as they both cover different areas of knowledge. Partially due to Brighton University being the Ex-Poly so a different slant on education.
These houses are not for students this time. I assume you have noticed the huge developments to take in many of these students now. Huge expansion on the Sussex Campus for more student flats. Add in the Falmer Station developments. And the six blocks on the Lewes Road at Preston Barracks and opposite. As well as other blocks at the gyratory. And elsewhere in the city.
Surely it is only fair to also have buildings for local people too? I am a nature lover myself and have you bothered to look where these blocks are going? It is an awkward little corner next to the bypass. A bit of land already broken by that road.
You’d have more success suggestion killing off children, telling parents to stop breeding. Just as stupid as suggesting removing the Universities. Seriously – let us locals have somewhere to live.
And yes – I do live at this end of the city.
I am fully aware that the 2 Universities offer different courses. That does not mean one (as per my suggestion) could not be closed and the courses offered elsewhere. In fact the 2 Universities were originally a University, a Poly (formally a College of Technology & an Art College) and a Teachers Training College. I was born and lived at that end of the City for many many years and watched all 3 of the sites in that area being built.
I am aware the proposed flats are not student flats as I did read the article. My point was by reducing the number of students in Brighton you would free up suitable family homes, which are currently used as student accommodation, for local families, the existing purpose built student accommodations could be utilised/ adapted for single persons accommodation.
Yes I did look at the plans. It is an odd parcel of land and I would not wish to have a family home stuck between the busy A27 and Coldean Lane and maybe the above would mean I would not need too.
I did state my idea was radical but maybe thats what it will take to ease the housing & associated problems in Brighton as to just continue to build properties is not sustainable.
We desperately need housing it is so unfair my adult sons who grew up in this city still live with me because even on a full-time wage they cannot afford to rent their own place. And yes I do live near proposed build all these nimbys need to pee off
‘truly affordable’ – yes, because it resembles a prison.
putting such an ugly scheme on the edge of town next to the beautiful stanmer park is an abomination.
i wonder how many of the planning officers or recently elected councillors would live there? – no wonder so many people are choosing to live in vans these days
Families cycling from Coldean…. how? Idiots