Plans for new viaduct-inspired block on arson-hit site

The new owners of an arson-hit derelict building has submitted plans to build a four-storey block of flats on the site.

Several fires have broken out at the former car showroom in Lewes Road since it was abandoned, prompting the council to write to its previous owners in 2024.

Now, Jethro East from Fairstone Living Ltd has applied to knock down the two buildings and build 15 flats and a commercial unit.

The application says: “The site itself has suffered from long-term neglect. Formerly occupied by a car sales garage, takeaway premises and residential flats, the buildings have remained vacant for approximately eight years and have gradually fallen into a state of significant dereliction.

“During this time the site has become a focal point for anti-social behaviour, including repeated squatting and two separate fire incidents that have caused considerable concern and distress to neighbouring residents and businesses.

“Although three previous planning permissions have been granted for redevelopment of the site, the complex logistical constraints associated with the plot have meant that these schemes were never implemented.

“As a result, the site has remained a prominent eyesore within a key city route and continues to pose potential risks to the public.

“This application represents an opportunity to finally bring the site back into productive use through a carefully considered and deliverable scheme.”

The application says the design of the brick block is inspired by the railway viaduct, a branch of which once crossed Lewes Road a few hundred metres north of the site and which is still in use elsewhere in the city.

The ground floor would be taken up by a single commercial unit to the front, and two garden flats at the back.

The rear flats on the first, second and third floors would have balconies, with a communal roof terrace at the front of the building on the third floor, behind the brick facade.

The application says potential uses for the commercial unit are a cafe, coffee shop or bakery.

There would be no car parking, but 24 secure cycle spaces would be provided in a bike store at the front of the building.

As well as fires breaking out on the site, teenagers regularly broke into the site to explore, with one falling through a roof in 2024.

Brighton and Hove City Council wrote to the site’s owners – at the time, John Blankson, Emmanual Blankson and Mark Buckle, asking them to properly secure it.

Mr Blankson was given planning permission to build nine flats there in 2020 – but work never started and the permission expired in September 2023.

Southdown Housing Association was given provisional approval to build a block of supported accommodation on the site – but negotiations over a financial contribution were never completed after building costs soared following the invasion of Ukraine, and the plans were dropped.