A neighbour of a semi-detached cottage earmarked for demolition to make way for a new block of student flats says she feels bullied into selling.
Karen Braysher, 60, says since the other half of the semi-detached pair of cottages in Station Approach, Falmer was first identified for development, she has felt under pressure to sell up.
She said she received an unsigned letter in 2017 offering her money to sell the house, and since then her garden has been vandalised.
But she is determined to stay put. She said: “I don’t have to move just because somebody next door to me bullies me.”
“They’ve done lots of nasty things that I’ve had to get involved in. They took out a weight bearing wall without a party wall agreement. They put a steel beam in but there was no party wall agreement.
“They’ve done horrible things like leave a radio on all night, knowing that my bedroom was next door, leaving it on a timer at four o’clock in the morning and then it’d go off and then come on again. I had to get solicitors to write to them to stop that.
“I don’t think I’m alone here. I think that people who are attacked by developers suffer in silence.”
Ms Braysher has an onward plan for the house, which is to be left in trust to the Life Charity to offer a house for pregnant homeless women.
David Bennett, director of development for Life Charity, said: “At any one time, we’re housing more than 200 mums and babies in our network of houses.
“The demand is huge and we really appreciate the generosity of Ms Braysher in putting her home in trust for us to use in this way.
“We have objected, as the development of the relatively secluded area could make it an unsuitable environment for us to best support our clients.”
Ms Braysher’s objection, which can be found on the planning portal, says the impact of the development on her house would create a tunnel effect, as the cottage would be left between two four-storey blocks which are substantially further forward.
Her objection says: “The lighting required for the proposed cycle storage area will be visible from the habitable rooms of [my house] and could be intrusive.
“Such a large cycle storage in what was the front garden would be an alien feature.
“The reduction in units is welcomed but the proposal still amounts to over development of the site with little merit except for student numbers.”
Joseph Pearson from Lewis and Co Planning, which is acting on behalf of developer Pinnervale Investments, said: “The revised application incorporates a number of design revisions and follows discussions with council officers.
“The development would replace two student HMOs with a modern, fully-managed and purpose built student housing development.
“The site is in a sustainable location for student accommodation given its close proximity to both university campuses, as well as the railway station and key cycle routes.
“By delivering good quality student accommodation close to campus the development will help ease pressure for student accommodation elsewhere in the city.
“The building’s form, layout, balcony/window placements and massing have all been designed to minimise the impact on neighbours and the application is also supported by a detailed Daylight, Sunlight and Overshadowing study so that the impact can be fully assessed by council officers.”
Pinnervale Investments was contacted for comment.
The application can be found on the council’s planning portal by searching for reference number BH2022/01883.
It looks like the scheme needs her property, it may be worth far more as a consequence.
Hopefully she can just hang on in. The developer will have a limited time to secure
borrowing before rates go up so will be ‘motivated’, lets hope not to use intimidation.
On the other hand it is someones home we are talking about. Should they have to move
for more purpose built student accommodation. The PBSA bubble is of scant benefit to local communities.
As for the studentification of the area when will enough be enough.
Pinnervale investments ltd can be found on Companies House.
Like Brighton needs yet more student accommodation! Enough is enough! When will our totally misguided council members come to their senses about this?
Meanwhile, I hope she will hold out until greedy Pinnervale Investments offer her a fortune, so that she can then afford to buy a really spectacular home with the proceeds.
Well maybe they should build on green field sites? Oh no she has been an active protester about that. So just another case of selfishness. As all the local media report that building more student accommodation frees up more housing for families so which means by selling her house she can help more families than by keeping it.
Are you an idiot or what since when has building student accommodation freed up any housing for locals Whilst at it how many of these students pay council tax
>since when has building student accommodation freed up any housing for locals
Well, they have to live somewhere, don’t they?
>how many of these students pay council tax
None if they’re full-time, but the University brings in a lot of money for the city, employs a lot of decent earners, etc. Plus students tend to settle here and become long term rate payers.
Bob
Okay so this lady is an active protester against building on green field sites, that’s her choice. She has an opinion that is supported by many for the right reasons and there are those who do not agree it is wrong building on green sites. It’s selfish to think some is being selfish just because they don’t have the same thoughts or values you do.
The local media can report that building more student accommodation frees up more housing for families yet are unable to produce the data and evidence to support their claims that has usually come from the local council in the first place.
How many family homes were released when the complex went up at Vouge Gyratory, the complex opposite and on the old budget site?
How many homes were released with the new accommodation complex recently built at Sussex University?
How many homes were released with the new build at Moulescoomb ?
How many will be released with further builds at Lewes Road co-op, London Road several sites and I’m sure there’s a few I’ve missed too.
The availability of housing stock has remained virtually the same and there’s no evidence that one home has been freed up by students to allow others the opportunity.
It is clear you have no idea what your talking about nor have you read the article correctly.
This lady occupies a residential home that could in fact be used by families, but you failed to grasp the point the home is to be used for STUDENT flats.
So by selling her house she won’t be helping families will she, it will be yet another one lost?
Hi Bob, you know more than I about me?? I don’t get you Bob??
She could just say, give me a million and I’ll bugger off.
That’s what I would do. Instead she will probably live out her days there moaning about how expensive it is to heat…
One million is not enough. She should ask for several. They can afford it.
Yes , exactly Hove Guy, when I had the unsigned letter it was for under market price of a house in that area. For me to leave it will completely change my plans and will cost.
One million is not enough to get me move on as I have the charity to consider and will honour my promise whatever I decide.