A developer who built a 378 bed block of student housing in Moulsecoomb is now planning to build an even bigger one next door.
McLaren wants to knock down the derelict mid-century building at 3 Moulsecoomb Way and build a six to ten-storey block.
This block would have 380 student bedrooms, a lounge, gym and games room on the ground floor, and landscaped gardens.
There would also be four units for industrial use, required under the council’s planning rules because of the current designated use of the site. Half of these would be rented at affordable rates.
The application, written by Boyer planning consultants, says: “The proposals involve the redevelopment of a vacant, brownfield site in a highly sustainable location to deliver a high-quality mixed-use development comprising flexible industrial floor space and purpose-built student accommodation.
“The proposal represents a departure from [council policy] due to the inclusion of student accommodation on a Protected Employment Site.
However … the scheme delivers a number of wider strategic policy objectives, with the student accommodation forming part of a broader package of public benefits.
“These benefits, taken together and alongside the significant uplift in the Site’s employment potential, substantially outweigh the benefit of retaining the Site solely for industrial use.
“The proposals will secure meaningful regeneration of this underutilised site, delivering improvements that will benefit both the local community and the wider area.”
The development would include an eight-bedroom “affordable student cluster flat” for disadvantaged, local or under-represented students.
It says the scheme’s design, which has taken several years to develop, is of “exceptional quality”.
And it says the scheme will generate 36 jobs, and more students will mean more money for the local economy.
It says since 1 Moulsecoomb Way was built in 2019, the number of licensed houses of multiple occupation in the area almost halved from 684 to 355.
As with 1 Moulsecoomb Way, student residents would not be allowed resident parking permits. Three disabled parking bays would be provided on site, as well as 254 cycle parking spaces.
It cites the Brighton Gas Works appeal as an example of the government’s planning inspectorate allowing more housing on a brownfield site than the council had indicated would be acceptable.
Providing housing for council taxpaying working people would generate even more income for that part of the local economy that isn’t just take-aways, coffee shops and vapes… But this is Brighton – Britain’s largest student campus.
I wonder why the focus has been on permission for loads of student flats recently, especially with what seems to be a large number of student flats not being occupied. Seems like a risk on the ROI?
To free up other housing for locals
The article says previous development freed up more than 300 “student “ houses for families etc
You might be speculating a bit there, my challenge would be this – is that a claim of coloration without causation?
There must be a hidden agenda, already too many student flats and now plans to bulid more ?? Is this the solution to the illegal migrants ?? Educate them all for free then try to send them home ?? There was an application to house other than students in the current empties, what happened there ?? Big mystery here, does the council know about these plans ???
Totally agree, many student blocks empty, no euro or Asians coming be Brighton and Sussex fallen down the university league tables…so yes possible boat persons-I presume doctors surgeons and engineers.
Let’s hope there is some of that free education left over for you.
Retired, don’t need it, but thanks anyway for your concern.
Families have been asking for years for less students to be using family homes,often ex council houses
The Boomerati won’t be happy at other people having some quality of life!
“Where is the benefit for us”, they will complain.
Mark Fry who would sooner see local people homeless whilst making up silly names than face the housing crisis that this obsession with prioritising students over everyone else is creating is back.
With the current strategy for more apprenticeship and vocational training, this will lead to fewer students. There appears to be a saturation of student accommodation in Brighton and one can only speculate that these are being built with the hope of later applying for “young professional” type permission, just like Hollingdean Road. It seems to be a blatant attempt to circumvent planning restrictions and the site would be better purposed as local housing or industrial units to salve the New England House issues.
Can’t be a bad thing if it works and houses people instead of standing empty waiting for non existant students. Yes it’s a bit sneaky if it’s just to bypass housing policy but still ok if it gets local people in there.
But you do realise that any capacity will not be used for local housing and the loss of industrial units will exacerbate issues with the local employment prospects. It is just a theory but maximum profit to be rinsed before moving on to ruin the next community. At the end of the day, if anything like the Hollingdean development, the flats will indeed stand empty as they will not be large enough for proper permission.
Only a question of time before “use” gets redefined for the current empties, even if the council took over a block for homeless people it would be cheaper than street and hostel/hotel funding. A better use of rooms and money.
I remember the ALF and others protesting against the size of cages for lab animals yet you seem to think it’s ok for human beings?
Since when do “lab rats” compare to street sleepers and various homeless ??? as mentioned, a better use than being another block of empties, save your sanctimonious bile for where it belongs, my comments are about using empty rooms for the benefit of others in need, councils have that capability, you? not so much.
Oh dear, touched a nerve? You think that substandard accommodation should be built on a site in a city where space is a premium. You also appear to support the manipulation of the planning process to achieve this. I would prefer that proper housing was built and put to good use locally. Btw the only place these rooms exist is on a planning submission. Campaign for real change not acceptance of poor outcome and exploitation.
You still don’t get, use it as opposed to doing nothing has got to be a solution that can benefit many, if 16 square metres with a bed heat and light is not enough for a homeless guy then what is ??? Yes ideally housing should be available for everyone but it isn’t and never will be ergo use what exists, these student rooms are habitable, converting office blocks too expensive and no-one actually building housing at the rate or price we need it, use what’s available because nothing else exists. Simple not complicated and right here right now. Politics you can play any day all day but available rooms en masse not very often on hand.
Why for more students?
Plenty in the Lewes Rd area that aren’t going to be used.
Should rent them out as Guardians places for Hard Working People with a Trade, Council or NHS workers who can’t save for a Deposit as they are paying a silly price on rent.
The people of Moulescoomb need to be considered,there are plenty of these sites in Brightonand soon the student population will decrease.