Plans for new school buildings and a boarding house are recommended for approval by councillors this week.
Brighton College wants to build new classrooms on the former St Mary’s Hall site and convert the existing prep school site into boarding accommodation.
Brighton and Hove City Council’s Planning Committee is due to reach a decision on Wednesday (2 July), with officials advising members to be “minded to grant” permission. A report said that the proposals complied with local and national planning policy.
Approval would be subject to terms including travel plans and monitoring and a £6,360 contribution towards employment and skills training.
At the St Mary’s Hall site, in Eastern Road, the plans include a new three-storey teaching block designed to look like a row of seven terraced houses, with gabled roofs and a multi-use hall.
The pre-prep school could then become two boarding houses at the former Convent of the Blessed Sacrament site, which borders Walpole Road, Belle Vue Gardens and Eastern Road.
The boarding houses – including a new five-storey building – would cater for 150 children, aged 13 to 18. A 20th century building and extensions on the site would be demolished.
In March, Brighton College was criticised after an email to staff encouraged them to post comments in support of the planning application.
The date of the email – Monday 3 March – coincided with almost 150 comments appearing on the council website, followed by about 70 more the next day.
Labour councillor Liz Loughran, who chaired the council’s Planning Committee at the time, responded by saying that it was not a referendum.
A report published last week said that there were 619 representations from the public, 299 in support, including from the University Hospitals Sussex NHS Trust, the Regency Society and Hove Civic Society.
A total of 268 comments objected to the plans, including from a campaign group called Wild Kemptown.
Ten councillors have objected to the application. They include eight Labour members
- Gary Wilkinson and Theresa Mackey who represent Kemptown ward
- Tristram Burden and Milla Gauge who represent Queen’s Park
- David McGregor and Gill Williams who represent Whitehawk and Marina
- Birgit Miller, the cabinet member for culture heritage and tourism
- Jacob Allen, the cabinet member for customer service and the public realm
Two Green councillors also lodged objections: Kerry Pickett and Ollie Sykes.
Councillor Wilkinson said today (Monday 30 June) that the school had “undermined community trust” with its application to increase the number of boarders.
He said: “I have spoken with many residents and they feel unheard. Consultation events have been described as disconnected exhibitions, not genuine dialogue.
“Local residents’ groups like the Kemptown United group, Wild Kemptown and local councillors have raised consistent concerns, only to feel dismissed. This is a community feeling invisible.
“Such frustration transcends politics. It’s about a community facing displacement, psychological and practical, where once-vibrant residential streets feel colonised by a corporate school.”
In his objection, he questioned the height of the proposed buildings, the effects on resident parking and whether there was a need to expand the school’s residential impact on the area by introducing 150 new boarders.
Public objectors criticised potential noise, overdevelopment, poor design, the prospect of extra traffic and effects on the conservation area.
Supportive comments said that the proposals were well designed, would improve educational facilities and would reduce traffic.
The Regency Society said that the application was “imaginative” and “enhancing the existing streetscape”.
The society said: “The proposal for the relocated prep school on the St Mary’s site has a design and scale that continues and enhances the existing streetscape while providing within the site something very relatable to children, who will be the main users. The choice of materials is imaginative.
“On the convent site, the preservation of the mid 19th century villas and early 20th century extensions, freed from the clutter of mid 20th building additions, is welcome – as is the removal of perimeter high netting.”
Brighton College said in its application that the Sunday Times had named it the best school in the UK for A levels and the best boarding school in the country.
The 180-year-old independent school has 1,800 pupils aged 3 to 18, mostly from the BN postcode area. It has 700 staff, supports 150 jobs in the area and contributes £50 million a year to Brighton and Hove’s GDP.
In a “design and access statement”, the college said: “The new building will be iconic for Brighton.
“With a striking silhouette of pitched roofs, the new proposal draws inspiration from the local vernacular of coastal architecture and fishermen’s huts but stands firmly in the 21st century.
“With modern, high-quality, yet sustainable materials and detailing throughout, the project aims to capture the progressive and modern values of Brighton College, yet drawing inspiration from its local and historical context.”
The Planning Committee is due to meet at Hove Town Hall at 2pm on Wednesday (2 July). The meeting is scheduled to be webcast.
The plans do look good but there will be an increase in traffic on a major arterial route to the main hospital. Inconsiderate parking by the parents will ensure snarl-ups at peak times. Make Eastern Road a red route and enforce it. Stop them queuing to turn into the narrow driveway and disrupting the flow of traffic including emergency services.
The obstruction of emergency vehicles to and from the Sussex County hospital with the increase in traffic, including construction traffic, if this build goes ahead should be enough overturn this planning application alone!
To be honest, you’ve made me think there’s a stronger case for a red route along that road.
It is outrageous Brighton College are planning to increase pupil numbers by up to 25% on such a small site. And being allowed to ruin a Conservation Area in the process. Brighton College should be acquiring a separate site if they want to expand to this degree. One for the Juniors and one for the Seniors? Or one for the Boarders and one for the Day Pupils? There are no shortage of former school sites in and around Brighton and Hove. Why is this school being so crass in trying to shoehorn everything onto one site? Brighton College pupils will also end up with a canteen experience of teaching rather than anything special for the money their parents are paying.
The Inspectorate already considered BC’s last proposal, a much smaller development, as being “overdevelopment”. So I would assume by that logic, all that will happen is that any plan will get appealed and upheld to maintain consistency in the ruling.
Particularly, I find it odd that whilst the local planning officers said proposals complied with local and national planning policy, the inspectorate said the exact opposite, citing several policies that it did not comply with.
I am a resident living opposite. This is gross overdevelopment of a green site at the heart of a beautiful conservation area. If ‘ conservation area’ means anything this application should be dismissed. Other than supporting Brighton College’s expansive business plan it does nothing for the local community.
How odd – we were repeatedly told not so long ago that applying VAT on these elitist establishments would sound the death knell for the private education sector.
This one doesn’t seem to be exactly on the brink of closure.
Can I just point out that Brighton College provides many local families an absolute lifeline for at least 10 families+ a year by providing Full scholarships including food and support. These recipients are often too embarrassed to come forward to advertise so it’s not very well known. They Help the local community in ways you would never hear about including the elderly and are very low key about the help that they give to be sensitive which is an incredibly rare quality. Most importantly they are helping to sculpt children who some have come from a very privileged background to prioritise kindness at all times which is what we certainly need more of in this world. If they could do this on a much larger scale which could mean they have more funds to provide more LOCAL scholarships, provide more direct help to the local community and instill kindness in the minds of children who could go on to become very influential adults of the future and some will carry on that level of kindness I really don’t see the negatives.
What has this got to do with an inappropriate planning application? They can still offer scholarships if they don’t get it.
An extension of this School/ business would raise more funds to provide more help for the local community. It’s a very overlooked important fact.
They can buy another site. This one is far too small to keep increasing student numbers at this rate. It will be like a battery hen farm for youngsters if they develop it any further.
Fun Fact: They say they support by visiting the Valley Social Centre in some of their latest propaganda. That building has been closed for five years and in disrepair. Not sure how much I believe them.
Well said.
Even if we take that at face value, that’s bribery.
Also a tax deduction and a requirement to maintain their charitible status. BC get far more out of that arrangement then they put in.
This sounds like the old lady who was run over and then says the driver who did it was absolutely lovely because they called an ambulance and got them a blanket.
Doing a couple of nice things does not discount all the negative issues the constant expansion of the college causes to the local area.
Kindness?
As a resident who lived in Kemptown not to long ago. I saw no kindness whatsoever.
Please explain why one of the lovely parents of these darling children refused to move when parked outside the funeral directors near the school when waiting to pick up their child, and wouldn’t allow the undertakers to park the hearse to load a deceased person to be loaded onto the hearse, to take them to their funeral? Please also explain why I saw a huge group of brighton college students watch an older lady walk in the road with her stroller because they wouldn’t move off the pavement to allow her to pass on Kemptown High Street, please explain why the children of Brighton college don’t move out of the way of other people in the Kemp Town when they are off site and go into all the shops in packs and have no regard for other people who also may be in those shops? They may be privileged enough to have money and be able to pay for an education at the school. But you can’t pay for manners and respect, they are learnt behaviours. And if the extremely polite parent who I mentioned above is anything to go by. No wonder they have no manners or respect for anyone but themselves and this is exactly why, there is such upheaval and so many residents against these plans…
Well obviously if that happened shame on the parents. Unfortunately no school can educate the parents. I lived by St Lukes Primary school for a while and witnessed terrible behaviour with cars endangering other young children. Those cars around St Lukes seem to be non stop. I’ve noticed Brighton College has incredibly long holidays and you can hear a pin drop at times around Easter, Summer and Christmas. Regarding kindness all I can say is what I’ve witnessed firsthand. Our hospital staff were well fed with endless amounts food during the whole of covid mainly by Brighton College parents. Our elderly were given much needed long friendship calls and direct help from pupils. A lot of our hardworking hospital staff worked endless hours to put their children into Brighton College in the hope they may also become doctors. Don’t we need as many doctors as possible? They don’t just give out basic scholarships they actually give out 125% scholarships and even support siblings. I’ve personally witnessed many beachcleans by the pupils in all weathers. As a resident of this area if I had my way personally the whole bingo area would go and maybe one day become occupied by BC. This school was here long before any of us so anyone who moans about them being here I really don’t know why you would move next to such an established school with an ethos of kindness and immaculate grounds. I think it’s the council who let this area down with the lack of road safety.
You must have some sort of connection with the school to know all these wonderful “apparent” community initiatives that members of the local community or public ever heard about. If they were so wonderful, kind and giving then why wasn’t that published in the news? Wouldn’t that be positive publicity?
I know many family and friends who live in the Kemp Town community who have had nothing but issues and problems with the attitude and behaviour shown by the schools pupils, staff and parents.
Why is Christmas, Easter and Summer Holidays so blissful for the local residents then?
When the school is closed.
Proves my point then. That when the school is open and in use. It’s chaos for locals and anyone passing through the area.
Try working in a local newsagents then you actually come into contact with people who actually witness these genuine kind acts that happen within our community and Brighton College should not only be applauded for doing them but by not bragging about them all the time. Maybe you would also come into contact with more members of the community that DON’T share your views to get more of a balanced correct opinion. Honestly you really need to get out there more speaking to people it will do you the world of good!
Brighton College brags about its “community impact” all the time, Penny.
Which is weird, because the overwhelming opinion of the VSCE would describe getting them involved in anything of the sort as equivalent to trying to draw blood from a stone.
While I understand that some may have concerns about the extension, I believe it’s important to recognise the incredible work the college is already doing for local children and the wider community. This extension represents a thoughtful step forward not just in terms of space, but in expanding opportunities and support for the young people who rely on this school.
Please tell us what this ‘incredible work’ the school is doing for local children and the wider community.
Be specific.
Let’s be very clear, BC have extremely limited interactions with the VCSE sector.
It’s difficult to see how a boarding facility will increase road traffic or create parking problems.
Then allow me to explain, John.
Parents often drive long distances to drop off and collect students at the start and end of term, which results in concentrated traffic surges. In addition, visiting families, taxi services, deliveries, and staff commuting add to the overall load. Given that Brighton College is situated in a densely populated urban area with existing congestion and limited parking, made worse by the hospital in proximity, even periodic increases can cause significant disruption.