Planners grant permission for 125 affordable homes in Portslade

A scheme to build 125 “affordable” homes in Portslade has been granted detailed planning permission despite some concerns from neighbours.

Work is expected to start on the £35 million new estate, off Overdown Rise, in Mile Oak, in the autumn and should take about two and a half years to complete.

The owner, Britain’s biggest housing association Clarion, said that the scheme would be 100 per cent affordable.

It bought the site earlier this year from Crest Nicholson, the commercial housebuilder.

Crest Nicholson had already been granted outline planning permission for the scheme with a mix of 40 per cent “affordable” homes and the rest to be sold at full market prices.

The homes are to be a mix of detached, semi-detached and terraced houses and flats, mostly two storeys high, using mixed bricks, with some features in red brick. It asked for some homes to have red tiles on the front.

Clarion wants to build eight one-bedroom flats, 16 two-bedroom flats, 40 two-bedroom houses, 54 three-bedroom houses and seven four-bedroom houses.

Labour councillor Peter Atkinson, who represents North Portslade, spoke on behalf of residents who have raised concerns about flooding, extra traffic and the impact on local schools and doctors.

He told the Planning Committee that, even though the development had already been approved in principle, residents’ concerns have not been addressed.

Councillor Atkinson said: “One aspect of the application is the access to the construction site via a small track between Overdown Rise and Gorse Close.

“This remains a huge cause for concern among local residents, as does the route that large numbers of lorries and trucks will have to take through narrow, already-congested local roads.”

There were also worries that “headings” – tunnels built into the chalk at the end of the 19th century to collect rainwater – could end up backed up during times of heavy rain and high tides.

The application was approved unanimously this afternoon (Wednesday 12 June).

Clarion will pay a developer contribution of more than £650,000 to cover the additional cost burden on local schools.

This is expected to include almost £162,000 for nurseries, £185,000 for primary schools, more than £255,000 for secondary schools and nearly £53,000 for sixth forms.