Brighton’s creative sector is being asked to bid for the chance to rent space in two office blocks owned by the city council.
Brighton and Hove City Council announced it would be making space available in Phoenix House, West Street and Lyndean House, Queens Road, as an alternative to New England House, which it has decided to sell.
New England House was previously home to scores of local creative organisations, but they were all evicted last year after serious fire risks were detailed in a survey.
Phoenix House and Lyndean House were bought by the council in 2019 and early 2020, in the hope they would generate an income to help bolster dwindling council coffers.
However, the pandemic made renting office space much harder, with more people now working from home.
This week, the council said creative organisations could now submit bids to use the space, which should include a rental offer and details of their “ability to create a space that meets their needs, alongside their wider impact on the creative sector”.
Councillor David McGregor, Cabinet Member for Economy, Culture, Heritage and Tourism, said: “Brighton amd Hove’s creative sector is one of the things that makes our city so special, but we know artists, makers, designers, small manufacturers and growing creative businesses are facing real pressure when it comes to finding suitable workspace.
“We understand these pressures and that’s why we’re now directly intervening and making sure this crucial part of Brighton and Hove’s identity continues to thrive in our city.
“By promoting the available space at Phoenix House and Lyndean House to established creative organisations first, we can help businesses and creatives stay in the city, grow here, and create new opportunities for the next generation of creative talent.”
This first round of opportunities aims to attract established businesses and organisations that will, in turn, provide access to freelancers, individual artists and their networks.
Various sizes of workspace are available including some air-conditioned suites.
Business owners are currently being invited to submit expressions of interest, including a bid proposal, by 2 October.
Bids will be assessed and scored using financial and non-financial criteria. These range from community benefit and support for the wider creative sector, to health and wellbeing, including training and staff support.
Complete own goal when the council bought both buildings, neither has managed a significant return, more money wasted. Should sell both buildings and I see they are beginning to sell more real estate not surprisingly as the capital debt is now £460m which includes £51m for the i360 with the £2m the ratepayers are paying annually set to rise for this fiasco.