A £10 million plan to build two blocks containing 36 council flats in total could be approved next week.
A report to Brighton and Hove City Council’s Planning Committee is in favour of the scheme in Swanborough Drive, Whitehawk. The committee is due to meet next Wednesday (4 February).
The site of the proposed “affordable” flats is on a former playground which was relocated about 10 years ago, with the place since being treated as a wildlife area which includes a butterfly bank.
Residents campaigned against housing on the site, which was regarded as part of Brighton and Hove’s “urban fringe”, but a shortage of new homes locally persuaded councillors to allocated it for flats.
The proposed blocks would six storeys high but should appear less tall because of the design and with the site being on a slope.
The council said that all the flats would be available for affordable council rent.
Twelve of the flats would have one bedroom and would be designed for two people. Fifteen of them would be two-bed flats designed for three people.
One would be a three-bedroom flat for four people and eight flats would have three bedrooms and be designed for five people.
The design includes a proposed community space and the scheme as a whole is intended to be car-free.
An undercroft would include six car parking spaces, five for motorbikes, one for a car club vehicle and 44 cycle spaces and a bike share hub.
Neighbours have sent 13 objections and a petition with 36 signatures. Their concerns include the loss of the 1A bus route which has cut links with parts of Brighton and Hove. The new 1X does not serve Whitehawk.
People were also concerned about the loss of biodiversity and the impact on the Racehill Community Orchard.
Ecological surveys recorded 244 species of invertebrates at the site – 13 with conservation status, and three which are rare and among the most protected
Concerned residents include Irfana Bharveen who feared that that people would just be “dumped in new tall buildings”. Her neighbours pick berries and enjoy walking around the neighbouring orchard and wild areas.
She said: “I love this community and, even when the council feel they need to give to people who really need houses, don’t they deserve proper housing.
“I don’t know what’s the point of dumping everybody into tall buildings and overcrowding.”
Lauren O’Connor said that she felt as though Swanborough Drive and Whitehawk in general were treated like a dumping ground.
She said: “There’s a lot of houses and people living in this small space and there’s not really any thought for local amenities or small businesses.
“I have no objection to the flats being built. It’s just the lack of thought around the community and what this will bring with it.
“It’s going to stretch GP services – and where is the healthy food coming from?”
The Planning Committee is due to meet at Hove Town Hall at 2pm next Wednesday (4 February). The meeting is scheduled to be webcast.
Just another 8,000 on the waiting list to go. Unless this government takes radical action on housing this development is a drop in the ocean.
I’m really in favour of this scheme; it provides a much-needed community space for the North Whitehawk Tenants Association. These community groups are crucial in giving a voice to local areas, especially considering the Pride in Place funding that is in the pipeline, and with the strategic redesign of Whitehawk, including local amenities and small business, with the decommissioning of the highrises over the next several years, they will be an important element to ensure a strong voice and advocacy within the community.
What’s the re-design of Whitehawk, when’s that coming along.
Not heard about that to be honest.
I’m all up for More Housing in the Area-East Brighton is getting Popular
We’ve got a Butterfly Garden, Community Garden down by Drs Surgery.
I wish the Bushes would be well cut back on the Football Pitches by Crew Club-can walk down the Embankment towards Haybourne Rd/Close Area-a lot of people walk there and watch Kids play footie.
Within the City I doubt many more Houses will be Built it will all be Flats-more can get into Flats and there more spaces about for flats.
Let’s see what the Commitee decide