Neighbours have objected to the height of a new block of council flats planned for the site of a former library.
Hollingbury Library, at the corner of Carden Hill and County Oak Avenue, occupied a derelict two-storey pre-fab building.
Brighton and Hove City Council wants to replace it with a four-storey block of flats, with all nine of the proposed flats classed as “affordable” or available at a “social” rent.
The plans were drawn up for the council by MH Architects, with each of the flats having one or two bedrooms and to be let to people on the council’s housing register.
Officials have backed the scheme in a report to the council’s Planning Committee, subject to an agreement on “developer contributions”.
Fifty people went to a public consultation event last August, with 21 giving feedback. Eight supported the scheme. Seven offered support with reservations. Six were unsure – and no objections were recorded.
But six objections were sent to the council in response to the planning application, raising concerns about the height of the building, traffic and the loss of a tree. One person sent a letter of support.
Objector Syed Ahmed said: “This development plan can only bring negativity to the area by putting off visitors like myself.
“The high-rise building will not only obstruct the natural beauty and scenery of the surrounding environment but will also increase air pollution by restricting the natural flow of breeze from the beautiful sea.
“This can also impact on tourism and reduce the quality of life for the local residents.”
Another objector, whose details were redacted by the council, said: “We understand the need for new housing but believe this development is inappropriate for our area.
“It disregards the wellbeing of current residents and fails to maintain the neighbourhood’s character.”
The supporter, whose details were also redacted, said: “This looks like a fantastic design for much-needed housing in the local area. I fully support the proposal.
“It’ll fit in nicely with the local pub around the corner and provide much-needed footfall for the shops in the area.”
The old library was built in 1950 and was originally a pub. When the pub moved to a building next door in 1961, the pre-fab building was refitted as a small branch library, opening in 1962.
The £3 million project to replace the old library with flats is part of the council’s “New Homes for Neighbourhoods” programme.
The scheme has been awarded a £150,000 grant – and 40 per cent of the overall cost is expected to be funded with money received by the council from tenants exercising their “right to buy”.
The application is due to be decided by the council’s Planning Committee at a meeting which is scheduled to start at noon next Wednesday (6 March) at Hove Town Hall – and to be webcast on the council’s website.
Visitors? Sea breeze? Its Hollingbury mate! Not Miami beach
Have to admit you have a point there 🤣 Handy for ASDA and Matalan though…
How are the build costs 3 million pounds for nine one and two bedroom flats? When the council already owns the land, this is at least a million too much. You could go out now and buy at least 10 one and two bedroom flats with a 3 million pound budget.
Why so small, should be minimum 10 stories. I thought we had a housing crisis
Always an interesting question. But height is often restricted due to availability and capacity of services esp water and drainage/sewage. Apart from aesthetic and parking/ traffic concerns.
Make it a Section 106 agreement to include a replacement Library in the block.
I believe there is a library down the road which serves to replace this one. Hence the site’s redevelopment.
The library in Old Boat Corner is just one small room that was probably used as storage for this community centre. Being one small room means that it doesn’t have a large selection of books!
It’s also a really dull and miserable place and completely unsuitable as a library!
I’ve had an idea for a community library network. Bit like how libraries can move books from one another, this would be the same, but with book exchanges within community assets. Expands the selection without needing additional space!
I have lived in this area all my life & I object to it being a 4 storey 2 is fine.
4 storey will not fit with the area & will block the beautiful view not only for residents living opposite but also for the general public who like to be able to take walks & be able to view the beautiful scenery.
Also the parking will be a nightmare if it is a 4 storey. I come home at night & struggle to park near my house as it is & this will make it even worse.
Why does the council never listen to the residents? Why bother to have a debate about it at all if our objections make no difference & they’re going to go ahead with a 4 storey any way. Thought we lived in a democracy.
At least the residents of Hollingbury are having somewhere for working people to live built in their area – rather than a six to ten story student block… The design certainly looks better than the ugly eastern-European style blocks imposed on the residents of the Lewes Road area.
I see your point. But you’re clearly not familiar with East European blocks.
Actually I’ve travelled extensively in Romania, Bulgaria, Poland and the Baltic states and I can already see the first signs of the sort of deterioration (damp patches, crumbling concrete) in the earlier blocks built on the Lewes Road which is so visible in many the blocks in those countries; It will only be a matter of time before these hastily constructed edifices start to decay…
I’m not sure that’s a comparable equivalence, Bear.
Sea breeze? Strange remark
Parking would be a worry unless it has its own car park .
Carden Hill struggles now with spaces
Two / Three houses would be more appropriate to the area