Plans for scores of rental flats in a 13-storey block on the Hove bus depot car park have been lodged with the council.
The new application is the third to be submitted by developers Watkin Jones and bus company Go-Ahead as part of ambitious plans to redevelop what they have dubbed the Hove Gardens area around the depot.
Watkin Jones Group was given permission in October 2020 to demolish buildings in Ellen Street behind the car park and build 216 flats in blocks of up to 18 storeys.
And in March, Go Ahead Group was given permission for a new four-storey bus garage to replace its existing one in Conway Street, subject to financial agreements.
Now, they have made a new joint application for another block of flats on what is now the bus company’s car park, on the corner of Conway Street and Ellen Street.
The application says construction has now begun on phase 1 at the Ellen Road site, which includes commercial space on the ground floor.
It says: “The development will provide much needed new houses in line with Brighton and Hove City Council policy, alongside high quality commercial space, and will significantly improve the public realm on Ellen Street, Conway Street and Fonthill Street.
“Along the same streets it will provide new active frontages to invigorate the area and improve security through natural surveillance.
“The proposal includes new external amenity space in order to boost local ecology and to provide residents with communal green space. The development will create jobs during and after construction.”
The application also detailed a public consultation which was undertaken with residents, councillors and Peter Kyle MP.
It said: “The feedback received during the consultation was mixed. A majority supported the principles of new homes in the area, new homes on this site, and provision of commercial space and new ground floor frontages.
“Some of the respondents had a negative views of the proposed design, particularly relating to size, massing and density of the development, affordability, green and open space, and parking.
“All of these concerns have been comprehensively responded to.”
The scheme, which will see pavements widened, will be car-free, with just six blue badge car spaces for residents, one for the commercial element and four standard visitor spaces. It also includes 94 cycle parking spaces.
Tenants will be given a free two-year membership of a car club, which will be given two spaces in the phase 1 development.
Work proceeds at a snails’ pace & only on lift cores that I can see. One wonders how many more changes to original plans there will be.
What a depressingly awful project. It’s height and ugliness are in direct proportion to the decline in standards of architecture in this country. Sadly this will set a precedent, so that we are likely to see more and more of the same, with Brighton and Hove turning into a hideous Costa del Sussex. But then, our local planners and developers are not exactly well-known for their aesthetic understanding of design. Still, it should delight all those on the i360, since there is very little else to look at from it.
I have lived in the area for most of my life and have seen many changes. Having experienced the replications of this building site, I struggle to see how putting a 18 storey block of flats will be positive. They ask our opinion and yet seem to do the opposite. Are these flats going to be privately rented or will council accommodation be available to assist those who need somewhere to live. This will lead to fights when it comes to parking and what ‘community’ availability will there be? There are so many empty properties that need fixing up so can be available to people in need. Is this really a suitable place for such a big investment?