Residents who care passionately about protecting the last remaining green spaces adjoining the South Downs have been given a final chance to stand up for two precious sites in Coldean.
The green space off Coldean Lane is currently subject to a two-month consultation after being listed in the proposed 10-year development plan for the city (City Plan Part Two).
Our three groups – the Coldean Residents Association, Stanmer Preservation Society and Coldean Women’s Group – want to grasp this opportunity and are making a final attempt to convince Brighton and Hove City Council that the land should not be built on.
We want the council to understand that a city needs its green spaces as much as it needs its bustling urban areas.
This consultation is a chance, in our eyes, for the council to right the wrongs of the planning decision made in July last year to earmark the land for high-rise tower blocks.
In July last year, planning permission was granted for a joint venture housing development of 242 dwellings in six and seven-storey blocks on a field off Coldean Lane, with an adjoining site behind Varley Park Halls of Residence also earmarked for future development.
The partners in the joint venture are Brighton and Hove City Council and Hyde Housing.
Multiple objections had been lodged to the plans during the public consultation phase, including one from the South Downs National Park, which stated that it would be “an overdevelopment of inappropriate scale and density for this hillside urban fringe location within the setting of the (national park).
The national park authority added: “It would also appear to conflict with policy SA4 of the City Plan Part One – and with the proposed designation of the site as a Local Nature Reserve.”
Residents of Coldean had many and various reasons for objecting. Some were primarily concerned about the effect on wildlife – there were badger setts on the site in places earmarked in the plans for sewers.
Others were concerned about the fact that it would be built on part of the chalk aquifer that supplies much of Brighton’s drinking water.
Some had concerns about the dangerous position of the site, with the sheer drop to the Brighton Bypass at one end and busy Coldean Lane – already an accident blackspot – at the other.
And others were worried about the effect that such a large-scale developent would have on Coldean’s infrastructure, including parking space.
There will only be parking for half the number of proposed dwellings on the site itself.
We had initially been given to believe that this would be a small, low-rise development, in keeping with the Coldean estate and able to blend in with the landscape.
We were horrified when plans for almost twice the number of dwellings we’d been anticipating, encased in high-rise blocks and with minimal parking provision, were unveiled.
Time and again, as we saw with the block opposite Hove Park (which I voted against on Planning), Hyde Housing does not take the extra trouble to make its buildings distinguished in any way. This is not architecture but a computer template. The results looks as if spewed out by a 3D printer, indistinguishable from the on-site portaloo.
I personally like the hove park flats, one of the better buildings to have been put up in recent times, in my view
As you well know, Christopher, I seldom agree with your comments but I must say that on this ONE occasion you’re absolutely right.
It just goes to show that when you stick to serious subjects, on which you are suitably informed, you really CAN be quite an asset to have on board!
perhaps I should have a word with Cllr. Tom Druitt regarding any trees in this area of ancient woodland within our UN Designated Biosphere as he was an invaluable help in saving the Seven Dials Elm Tree when I discovered that the previous ‘GREEN Administration were planning to MURDER it—or, as you appear to have more time on your hands, perhaps you could kindly manage this for me?
Either way, I’ll be keeping an exceedingly keen eye on this situation, so do please, Christopher, keep up your good work!
They favour the 1960’s soviet bloc architecture. B&HCC want to squeeze as many people on the smallest footprint without a care for the consequences
Absolutely disgusting! Not at all in keeping with anything in the area! Bad enough with all the student parking can only imagine what our lovely little village is going to be like with absolutely no thought for its residents NIGHTMARE