A controversial planning application is likely to be heard in June, three months after it was withdrawn from a meeting pending legal advice.
Defence manufacturer L3 Harris wants permanent planning permission for an extension to its factory site at Home Farm Business Centre in Home Farm Road, Brighton.
Temporary planning permission ran out in September 2023 and the application to keep the building has received 652 objections on Brighton and Hove City Council’s website.
A council spokesperson said: “We are currently taking legal advice on this application.
“We are aiming for the application to be heard in June, but that is subject to receiving the relevant legal advice.
“We will update residents once a date for this application is finalised.”
Campaigners opposing the application have protested outside Hove Town Hall before every Planning Committee meeting since March.
Approximately 20 minutes into yesterday’s meeting, one of the campaigners called out from the public gallery urging councillors to refuse the application rather than “wait for months”.
Before being asked to leave by committee chair councillor Liz Loughran, who explained the application was not on the agenda, the woman and two other protesters started chanting “Brighton council pick a side don’t endorse the genocide” before they left the public gallery.
Campaigners, some councillors and MPs are against the application as the factory makes bomb racks and release mechanisms for Israeli F-35 fighter jets which are being used in the on-going battle in Gaza.
MPs Caroline Lucas and Lloyd Russell-Moyle have opposed the application, as have two of the Hollingdean and Fiveways ward councillors Theresa Fowler and Mohammed Asaduzzaman.
Green councillors Raphael Hill, Ellen McLeay and Kerry Pickett, along with former Conservative now Independent Samer Bagaeen, a professor of planning, have also opposed the application.
The next Planning Committee meeting is on Wednesday, 5 June.
People shouting and screaming at councillors at a planning committee won’t make them change their minds or help the process
If the application is rejected for any reason other than a valid planning ground it’ll be appealed and a government planning inspector will likely just grant it.
Trust only valid and legitiment planning concerns and considered and that no other reasons by any ranting mob…
Chris makes a very valid point. Protest, if you want to make a visual message, their right to do so is important. But don’t expect a change in the prescriptive process.
Grant the permission, keep building the release mechanisms and clear the rats nest that is Gaza.
An typical violent comment from a zionist. No wonder you are hated so much.
Substitute the word Zionist with the word Jew and it’s pretty clear where you are coming from Hamas shill. #releasethehostages
These protesters attempt to skew democracy and the planning process. Businesses that are legal must not be victimised by such action. Pity they aren’t in gainful employment or would not have time for this disruption. I recently experienced difficult access and exit at Hove Town Hall through this lot – quite intimidating –
L3 Harris should move to a more secure site and do what they do best, make the UK economy Money, provide well paid jobs and pay UK tax. Anyone who has a problem with Gaza or whatever dump is at war, this sort of idea that your somehow going to stop a war by targeting a small company in east Sussex is fully re traded. If you care that much, bored a plane pick up a rifle in said war zone or shut up.
Presumably the protestors are ok as long as the arms go to The Ukraine?
The comments on here are truly disgusting- why are people calling Gaza a “rat’s nest” and “whatever dump” with no moderation? These are hate crimes. Gaza is a prison. There is a genocide taking place. The arms trade is making a few people rich whilst the rest of the world, especially the poor people of the world, suffer. It is sad to think Brighton and Hove has such vile people living amongst us. And please do not tarnish Jewish people by saying we are all Zionists.