The Kemp Town Society (KTS), while welcoming development of the gasworks site and noting it has remained undeveloped for many decades, strongly objects to the proposed mixed-use redevelopment.
No learnings appear to have been incorporated from the overturning of the Brighton Marina development and the planning inspector’s ruling.
The grade I listed Kemp Town Estate is a conservation area of national importance. It is unique among Britain’s conservation areas, with all buildings being listed.
This status demands it is given exceptional protection against harm from developments which could be detrimental to the quality of its character.
The proposed gasworks development, an urban conglomeration including 11 densely packed tall buildings (over seven stories), neighbours the grade I listed buildings of the Kemp Town Estate.
The density of the proposed development – comprising 553 residential units and 2,697sqm of commercial space – is significantly out of proportion with all surrounding architecture.
This will have a serious and detrimental impact on current infrastructure, quality of life for residents and visitors, and public health and safety.
From the Brighton Palace Pier to Roedean School, Marine Parade and Marine Drive together form one of the longest, continuous stretches of seafront in the country, of unparalleled high architectural quality.
There are over 200 listed buildings and structures along its length of two miles, making it the country’s most impressive marine façade to the sea.
Immediately adjacent to the proposed gasworks development, is the Kemp Town Conservation Area which incorporates the grade I listed Lewes Crescent, Sussex Square, Chichester Terrace and Arundel Terrace and the grade II listed French Convalescent Home.
To the east are the locally listed Marine Gate and the grade II listed Roedean School.
It is imperative that any development on the gasworks site is of first-class architectural quality and respects the scale, height and character of the consistent architectural excellence of the neighbouring buildings.
The proposed development conspicuously fails to respect the architectural distinction of the surrounding buildings.
KTS is supportive of this redundant site being redeveloped for housing, which will make a valuable contribution to meeting Brighton and Hove City Council’s housing targets.
The current proposal does not include details of affordable housing, important to create a sustainable local community.
The current proposal for a densely packed conglomeration of tall blocks will dominate its surrounding neighbours by sheer size, height, scale, density and massing, with impact well beyond the curtilage of the development.
With the Brighton Marina development now turned down, any proposal that tall buildings are acceptable on the gasworks site is no longer relevant.
The planning inspector for the Marina appeal was critical of the jarring relationship of the Marina proposals to the heritage assets in the immediate vicinity.
Endorsed by the planning inspector and the Secretary of State, these are more relevant when applied to the relationship of the tall, densely packed buildings of the gasworks development to those of the same heritage assets as described.
It is the opinion of KTS that these grounds alone are sufficiently strong to justify refusal of this planning application.
It asks the council take note of the precedent set by the Brighton Marina appeal decision, and reject the gasworks planning application outright.
KTS notes the gasworks site is not identified as a “special site” under the Contaminated Land Regulations 2006. Decontamination procedures are effectively excluded from this planning application.
Due to the significant risk of developing the site, KTS is not able to support an application without a detailed contamination survey, to establish there are no health and safety risks to Kemp Town Estate residents, visitors and neighbouring areas.
The height and bulk of the proposed buildings will maximise the risks of deep excavations into contaminated ground.
A development of the proposed scale will also inevitably stretch demands on current infrastructure.
The planning application does not address the issues resulting from 553 additional residential units – or about 1,000 new residents – and 2,697sqm of commercial space. These include
- pressure placed on current medical and educational provision and parking and public transport, all of which are currently fully used by local residents
- disruption of the congested A259 and Eastern Road thoroughfares, from additional traffic during both the construction stage and in its completed state
- impact on access to the Royal Sussex County Hospital as a result of the additional road usage
- health risk from pollution levels arising from increased vehicle usage (private, public and commercial)
- vehicles from the proposed development (private and commercial) competing for limited existing car parking spaces
- pedestrian safety concerns from increased traffic
…
It is on these grounds that the Kemp Town Society registers on behalf of its members its strong objection to planning application BH2021/04167 for the Brighton gasworks land bounded by Roedean Road (B2066), Marina Way and Boundary Road, Brighton, BN2 5TJ.
Michael Bedingfield is a member of the Kemp Town Society committee and the society’s representative on the Brighton and Hove Conservation Advisory Group.
This is an edited version of the Kemp Town Society’s submission to Brighton and Hove City Council.
The proposed development conspicuously fails to respect the architectural distinction of the surrounding buildings…
It’s directly next to arguably THE most hideous building in B&H, Courcels.
Marine Gate, Grade 2 listing aside, is also rather grim.
Would the Nimbys at KTS prefer to keep the derelict gas works and industrial area as is?
Why is the press pushing more and more articles on the appearance and not the toxicity of the site and the school right next to it?
What about affordable housing! Hope all affordable for locals
From the planning portal:
517 objections
38 in favour
Almost as many objections as flats proposed.
Many locals would like it developed but not into such tall and cramped buildings. Even more would like affordable housing but we all know that won’t happen.
Several of those in favour are just having a go at the objectors for allegedly being nasty and selfish, as, they say, the objectors already own properties in the area, whereas the supporters haven’t got a property of their own and are paying high rents or still living with parents. Some are saying, yes, build it even higher, why not. Let’s look at some facts then.
There are many very worrying and significant issues that have arisen from the application. If nothing else, supporters would do well to read the extremely concerning comments of the Health and Safety Executive on fire safety.
I can’t speak for other objectors but I am directly adjacent to this proposed development, still have a hefty mortgage, the developers acknowledge that all daylight and sunlight to my maisonette and limited amenity space will disappear, along with that of several other properties, and ‘they can’t do anything about it’. Not even a false ‘sorry’.
For the record, every single one of the objectors wants this site built on, but SAFELY and for the benefit of local people. We all want affordable housing on there so that locals can get on the housing ladder. NO AFFORDABLE HOUSING HAS BEEN PROPOSED. The proposal is really for as many luxury flats for investors/second homers as can be crammed on to the site, so that they would be very likely to end up like those two concrete blocks in the marina – bleak grey elephants for sale or rent to people with plenty of money, exposed to ghastly weather for much of the year (with a pathetic row of fast food joints underneath) and no community spirit whatsoever.
You are right, Chris, and so is Pete, but Pete will almost certainly not get his wish if this thing goes ahead.
If you want affordable housing, you have to build tall. Economy of scale.
It looks 10x better than some of the mess near to it, get it built and stop moaning.
The soil is toxic, so get the bulldozers in and sort it out.
Anything is better than the current mess.
No affordable housing has been offered. These are luxury flats for investors and second-homers – i.e. UNAFFORDABLE housing for most locals.