New flats and shop space have been approved for a “dog’s dinner” of a building in Western Road, Brighton.
Rachel Charitable Trust has been granted planning permission by Brighton and Hove City Council to demolish and rebuild 41-44 Western Road as a four-storey building to create 14 homes and two “flexible” shopfronts facing the road.
The existing four-storey building – built in phases during the 19th century – housed the Card Factory and Cancer Research UK charity shop. The rear of the building forms 32-36 Clarence Square.
A Clarence Square resident, Nigel Massey, spoke about fly-tipping around communal bins and called for fencing to prevent anti-social behaviour when the council’s Planning Committee met on Wednesday (7 October).
At Hove Town Hall, Mr Massey said: “Currently, we have people walk along there (and) they go behind the current commercial bins to urinate and so on.
“It’s absolutely awful to have such a tip right in the centre of Brighton on a major area that pedestrians and tourists use to walk through from Churchill Square down to the i360.”
The applicant’s agent, Michael Wood, from WSP planning consultancy, said that the existing building was in a poor state of repair and had little architectural merit.
Addressing neighbours’ concerns, Mr Wood said: “The residential frontage will create a clearly private space, will help with security and discourage anti-social activity that currently takes place.
“We are comfortable with the proposition of extending the wall and railings to the outer edge of the site.”
Labour councillor Julie Cattell praised the application and said: “The most polite thing I can say about what it looks like at the moment is a dog’s dinner, both front and back.
“It will be a huge improvement on the appearance of Western Road.”
Conservative councillor Carol Theobald was the only committee member to vote against the plans and gave several reasons including the loss of traditional commercial properties.
Councillor Theobald said: “You’re unlikely to get any commuted sum towards affordable housing, the Regency Society, the Civic Society and CAG (Conservation Advisory Group) still have their concerns.”
The committee voted eight to one in favour of the scheme.
The entire stretch should be pulled down
When are they going to do something with the bit that was (I think) Recipease?
“Conservative councillor Carol Theobald was the only committee member to vote against the plans and gave several reasons including the loss of traditional commercial properties.”
There will still be physical retail space at street level and they’ll have access to a basement area for storage.
I think the owner and developer knows their property best.
I looked at the site the other day and what is proposed will certainly be an improvement to the current building(s)
And sometimes there won’t be a commuted sum but I’d rather take that small loss in the scheme of things if it enables a good scheme to go forward.
Councillor Theobald said: “You’re unlikely to get any commuted sum towards affordable housing, the Regency Society, the Civic Society and CAG (Conservation Advisory Group) still have their concerns.”
Regency Society, the Civic Society and CAG don’t care about affordable housing, their only real concerns are if it makes Brighton a modern thriving city.
The affordable housing will only be for those who ascribe to a certain religious ethic. Would you be so supportive if the plans were for a mosque or Islamic only housing?
Think it’s needed on that stretch of the Rd.
But the empty shops on other side are getting Graffiti all over.
Should be a B&M Store-that’s what’s needed I think.
Awful news. More of Brighton’s character gone. How short sighted.
Oh no not card factory we couldn’t possibly lose such an incredible brighton institution
Perhaps Jimmy K is a big fan of 50p tat and helium balloons.
The council appear to have it in for Western Road. They simply cannot stop tinkering with it and ruining its function and character. Or allowing others to.
The vast space on two floors above the Cancer Research shop in Western Road approved for demolition along with the Card shop Is derelict and has been for many years. What a disgrace that the owners have chosen to allow this decline and also the Council knowing the need for housing have allowed the only residents for years to be pigeons.
Hopefully when this new development goes forward the space will be much better used.
Check out the Rachel Trust for your answers.