People living in flats built on the site of an old maternity hospital and their neighbours are arguing over whether a parking permit ban should be lifted.
The flats were completed last year and residents have now moved in – but a condition on the original planning permission granted in 2020 bans them from getting a parking permit.
The developer, Martin Homes Buckingham Road Ltd, is now applying to have that condition removed.
The application, written by Whaleback, says: “Since the approval of the original condition, Brighton and Hove City Council no longer impose carfree conditions on planning permissions.
“Parking capacity is instead now controlled by limiting the number of parking permits … Condition 15 is therefore no longer reasonable or necessary.”
The application has been supported by five people who have lodged official comments.
One says: “As a resident of 76-78 Buckingham Road, and as an NHS clinician, I strongly support the removal of this planning condition.
“We are treated differently from people living directly across the road, despite contributing equally to the community. That disparity feels arbitrary and fundamentally unfair.”
Another said: “I understand the concerns around car traffic and pollution in our city and agree that these important issues needs managing appropriately, however I also believe that this should be done in a fair and equitable way.
“The current system is simply not fair as it discriminates us from our own neighbours even across the road.”
However, four people have objected, including one resident of the flats. They said: “When we purchased our property in 2024, we did so with the explicit understanding that this development would be car-free.
“This was a significant factor in our decision, as we value the reduced traffic and lower pollution levels that such a condition guarantees.
“Some comments supporting this change, stating that current restrictions affect property value, are completely irrelevant, because all the properties were bought with this restriction already in place.”
Anther objector, who did not disclose were they live, said: “The surrounding streets are already at maximum parking capacity.
“Allowing new residents to apply for permits will inevitably increase local congestion and air pollution.
“If the building cannot provide its own on-site parking, it must remain a car-free development as originally agreed.”
Unlike other local authorities, Brighton and Hove City Council redacts the details of those commenting.
Everyone knows you watit a few years then permits are sold. It is therefore ridiculous and disingenuous to pretend there is such a thing as a car free devpt, the council have been dishonest about this for years. Likewise with affordable housing. Developers no longer even pretend, they simply say it is “not viable” in their scheme. The current increasingly rightwing selfish zeitgeist supports this. The irony that the successful applicants will oppose any further permits once they have theirs, just as those buying houses in hardfought opposition campaign areas will oppose further building is lost on noone. …….
Watch out you bigotry is showing
Buckingham road has over a 1 year waiting list. So if you want to own a car, don’t think it’s particularly clever to buy into a car free development in an area with a massive parking shortage, maybe live in patcham…
The “anther” objector did not disclose “were they live!”
I suggest that a prerequisite of objecting must include a beating pulse rather than a piece of a plant? lol
If I recall correctly, this development replaced a building that had basement and off-road parking. No doubt the purchase prices were set at a level to reflect the fact that it was a non-car development. It was a reason that planning was granted otherwise it would have been deemed an oversaturation of units. To bleat about these elemental conditions now, when there has been no amelioration of the parking situation, seems downright cheeky and disingenuous. If you want to live in the centre of town in such circumstances, you accept that you will rely on the excellent public transport system.
When you moved into the flat you would have known there was restrictions on parking. You cant boohoo cry about it now. If you want somewhere with parking move. Cant just change the rules because you dont like it
Why picture of zone W???