Plans for 10 new “affordable” homes on a former pub site have been approved by councillors this afternoon (Wednesday 2 September).
Brighton and Hove City Council’s Planning Committee voted nine to one for the council’s own plans for a mix of five houses and five flats at 104 Cowley Drive, Woodingdean
The homes are planned for the site of the old Toby Inn pub, which closed 20 years ago.
Eleven objections to the plans cited concerns about the height of the buildings, increased parking problems, the loss of the pub and a lack of capacity at Woodingdean Medical Centre.
Labour councillor Jacob Allen spoke in favour of the scheme, saying that the pub had closed under a cloud in 2008, when he was still a pupil at Woodingdean Primary School.
Councillor Allen also said that there were nearly 2,300 families in temporary housing in Brighton and Hove in need of somewhere affordable and permanent to live.
At Hove Town Hall, the Woodingdean ward councillor told the Planning Committee: “If we can’t build on sites like this, I don’t know what we’re all spending our time doing.
“It’s a brownfield site of a former pub that has been derelict for two decades and we’re proposing a 100 per cent affordable housing scheme. It’s a dream come true.”
The housing is designed by BakerBrown, the practice run by Brighton University academic Duncan Baker-Brown, the architect behind the Waste House – a house built entirely from recycled rubbish.
Labour councillor Joy Robinson raised concerns about the limited parking, saying that there were five spaces planned when there ought to be 12.
She was told that the council was aware of the limited on-site parking but the area was not part of a controlled zone and the council’s highways team had not objected.
Green councillor Sue Shanks asked why the pub building could not turned into flats. She was told that only four flats would fit and their size would be “substandard”. By demolishing the pub building, the council can build 10 homes.
Conservative councillor Carol Theobald was the lone vote against the application after she said that the site would be better served by a previous proposal to build six houses.
Councillor Theobald said: “(It) would be much better to have had six homes with a decent garden instead of the little tiny gardens they’re going to get.
“The thing that worries me is the flats because I think it just starts a precedent off for that area.”
Labour councillor Tobias Sheard said that there was a great deal of green space near by on the South Downs.
Councillor Sheard said: “Councillor Allen put it quite well at the beginning. If we can’t build here, where can we build?
“This is a derelict site in the middle of a housing estate we’re proposing to put houses on.”
Green councillor Kerry Pickett said: “The design fits the area. It’s on a good bus route. We’ve got bat boxes, swift boxes, bee boxes. We’ve got a log pile. And the fact that they’re all for rent … this is a good proposal.”
Brighton and Hove Independent councillor Bridget Fishleigh said that she visited the site yesterday (Tuesday 1 September) and could not find anywhere to park.
Councillor Fishleigh said: “I feel sorry for the resident who will undoubtedly have more parking pressure in that area.
“Hopefully, Councillor Allen will get on the case and get an Enterprise car sharing spot there.”
You couldn’t make this up, a clown complaining about loss of a pub that closed 20 years ago !!! Why does the Council allow that on the list ?? Job creation maybe ?
Allow what on the list?
When an application is made anyone can put in an objection citing whatever reasons they want however sensible or idiotic they are.