Plans for a £10 million scheme to build two blocks of council flats on a former wildlife site and children’s playground have been approved.
The plot, in Swanborough Drive, Brighton, was a children’s playground until 2015 when it was allocated for up to 39 flats in Brighton and Hove City Council’s strategic blueprint, known as the “City Plan”.
Councillors voted unanimously to approve the application for 36 flats in two six-storey blocks at the top or northern end of Whitehawk when the council’s Planning Committee met this afternoon (Wednesday 4 February).
All the homes will be available for “affordable” rent and the scheme also includes a community space.
Neighbours submitted 13 objections and a petition with 37 signatures, raising concerns about the impact on the orchard and wildlife meadow and the wider infrastructure.
Lauren O’Connor spoke on behalf of the “close-knit” community in Swanborough Drive who were concerned that there was nothing to support more people moving into the area.
She said: “Swanborough Drive is a main cut-through to Whitehawk, carrying far more traffic than a typical residential street.
“When parking is full, which is most days, cars and the No 21 bus frequently become gridlocked, forcing drivers to reverse long distances just to clear the road.”
She invited the committee to see for themselves the congestion along Swanborough Drive.
Labour councillor Gill Williams, the council’s cabinet member for housing, said that the project was the latest phase of the council’s “new homes for neighbourhoods” programme.
Councillor Williams, who represents Whitehawk and Marina ward, acknowledged that parking was an issue for neighbours – as she heard during the consultation process.
Councillor Williams said: “This is a council-owned site and this will be built by the council for the benefit of local people. This is precisely what councils ought to be doing.
“I am very proud to be in support of this particular project.
“It’s all the more important because we know now it’s in the public domain that the five high-rise blocks very near this project will be going through some serious stages of redevelopment.”
The flats are known as the “bird blocks” and are large-panel systems (LPS) buildings from the 1960s which are due to be demolished and rebuilt. As a result, those living there would need rehousing.
Stephen Dryburgh, lead architect from Mackellar Schwerdt, said that there were more than 6,000 people on the housing waiting list and the council was only able to let 600 “social homes” last year.
Mr Dryburgh said: “This scheme has been shaped by the people who live here. The residents stated a need for a social heart in northern Whitehawk.
“As a result, we have integrated a flexible community space – a permanent piece of social infrastructure designed to foster cohesion and to support local groups, pop-up events or community care.”
The committee was told that the loss of biodiversity would be recovered both on and off site with green roofs and a wildlife habitat created at Whitehawk Hill.
In response to a question from Conservative councillor Carol Theobald, project manager Sarah Potter said that the homes would be available to people on the council’s housing register who had a local connection and a “demonstrable housing need”.
Councillor Theobald said: “I like the community space. I think that’s good for people having meetings and coffee mornings.
“I would have liked to see more parking. I think that will be a problem. Car parking and congestion needs to be sorted out.”
Labour councillor Tobias Sheard said: “There is room to develop, especially on the transport plan.
“I think there are explorations around the 1X perhaps routing up to Swanborough Drive as part of its route as well as going forward to other negotiations looking at how buses track that corner of Whitehawk.”
Brighton and Hove Independent councillor Mark Earthey said: “Can we please act on all the residents’ problems and issues raised here today?
“Can we take on board the residents’ issues with congestion, buses and parking.”
Green councillor Kerry Pickett said: “I’m really happy with the biodiversity efforts in terms of design. This building has got great lighting. The bats will be happy and there are bee bricks.
“It’s a great design. The only issue is the parking which is unfortunate because we need this housing.”
Twelve of the flats would have one bedroom and would be designed for two people. Fifteen of them would be two-bed flats, designed for three people. Four of the flats are planned to be accessible and would have access to the on-site parking spaces.
The scheme would otherwise be considered to be a car-free development.
Never heard of Swanborough and Albourne flats referred to as “bird blocks!”
This is a much needed development and one I am pleased to see go through – living nearby I do worry about the length of time this area will have building work happening given the tower blocks will be demolished and then more redevelopment.
I hope that the blocks are in line with what we can hope to see from the potential development of the wider neighbourhood as they look a lot nicer than very tall high rise and give a boost of nice looking accommodation that the area can be proud of.
Please put more 3/4 beds though – we need more family homes not more families cramped into 2 beds!
Agreed on the 3/4 beds; it’s one of the longest queues in the social housing list, and an important one. There are lots of neat modern ways of having high-rises that don’t look like high-rises!
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