A community campaign group has called on NHS bosses to commit to keeping the Brighton General Hospital site in public hands so that low-cost homes can be built there.
Sussex Community NHS Foundation Trust, which is based at the former hospital site, is looking at creating a new health hub there and selling off the rest of the site for housing.
Jerome Cox-Strong, from the Community Campaign for the Brighton General Hospital Site, spoke at a meeting of the trust board last Thursday (25 September).
Afterwards, Mr Cox-Strong said: “Over the past 10 months, the Community Campaign has been successful in bringing the possibility of redevelopment on the Brighton General site back into public focus.
“Getting the conversation going again was a necessary first step but our primary goal has been very clear: pushing for redevelopment of the site that keeps public land in public hands and tackles key issues in the area and city.
“The site has massive potential to deliver on all fronts, not just one: new social and key-worker housing, much-needed community facilities and green and play spaces as well as a new NHS health hub, keeping existing services on site.
“Support from the council and local MPs has been welcome so it’s disappointing that when asked today to work with us and the community and pledge to make our aims a reality, the Sussex Community Foundation Trust board declined.
“It is more concerning still that while today’s trust board meeting commits to developing a business case to deliver the new health hub, it appears the plan is once again to try do so by selling off the rest of the site.
“The previous community campaign that developed in 2019 demonstrated that this simply isn’t an option for our community and the energy around our current community campaign tells us that this strength of feeling remains in place.
“People do not want to see what was once the city’s workhouse turned into housing that ordinary people cannot afford.
“While we want to see the health hub happen, selling off the site to make this happen at the expense of all other possible benefits is unacceptable.
“To do so would be a real missed opportunity that would deepen inequality in the area, rather than tackle it.
“We remain committed to keeping the site publicly owned and opposing any attempts to privatise it.
“We hope that the trust will meet further with us but, more importantly, with the community and commit to maintaining public ownership and benefit as a result.”
Probably because a new health hub is earmarked for Whitehawk.
Is there, there is a Hub already every Friday at Robert Lodge-are they planning it somewhere more permanent.
I’m all up for Affordable Housing but some New Buids are £100 a week for a 1Bed Flat and more Single People ( Men or Woman) need to be considered for 1Bed properties.
Those that live with Parents in Mid Twenties should be considered to join the list, not just those that have 2/3 Children.
At one point the Council was everyone.
Strange Planet, one tax payer funded organisation ” owns” property and yet there seems to be no control over who has the right to buy it ??? it belongs in public domain not to be lost to greedy property grubbers. Real affordable housing should be the only taker on that list.
Not one sod of turf should be turned over to property developers. This land was gifted to the residents of Brighton and should remain in public ownership and developed for the local community. It is for the benefit of all.
The older buildings should be preserved and turned into flats and workspaces, which would be both cheaper and greener than newbuild. The whole site is very much laid out like a village. It started as a community facility a workhouse – and should come back to the community. This time with the community deciding.
I wonder if they have considered nominating the site as an ACV?