Derelict seafront hostel set to become 27-person shared house

A crumbling backpacker hostel on Brighton seafront is set to become a shared house for up to 27 people.

Developer Zaid WR Ltd, owned by Ali Bilal, wants to turn the former hostel next to Burger King on Kings Road into a 17-bedroom house of multiple occupation.

To house them all, it wants to put two extra floors on the building, turning it into a six storey block – the same height as its neighbours.

A planning application, written by Wilbury Planning, says: “Above ground floor level, the building is currently disused and redundant, and has been vacant for the last 18-months. The site is slowly falling into a state of disrepair.

“The intention of the applicant is to ensure the most efficient and effective use of this existing vacant and disused building through its conversion to an HMO (Sui Generis) use for up to 27-occupants.

“This in turn will enhance the local area by putting into a use an otherwise disused and redundant building and deliver an important type of housing that will help meet the housing requirements of Brighton and Hove.”

All the bedrooms would have a hand basin and en-suite. Ten of the units would be served by a new lift.

The building would have five shared kitchens and six living/dining rooms – a total of 4sqm per occupant.

Part of the restaurant prep area on the ground floor would be given over to the new lift.

The application doesn’t specify who the house would be let to, but does quote planning officers who say the proposed use would lead to occupation during university term times.

The ground floor of the building is currently occupied by the Sweetsler dessert parlour and Griller chicken shop.

The council refused planning permission for the signage for both restaurants following a retrospective planning application made by Justin Manning. In December, a planning inspector dismissed his appeal against the refusal.