Plans to build up to 42 flats in Warren Road, Woodingdean, are going on display to the public this week.
Brighton and Hove City Council is holding an event in Woodingdean Library on Thursday (1 October) to consult people on proposals to build on the former swimming pool and two of the former Warren Farm Industrial School cottages.
Already, people have expressed mixed feelings about the proposed flats which would be affordable council homes for people living in temporary housing in Brighton and Hove.
Woodingdean residents appear to be torn as they recognise the need for more social housing but are concerned about the pressure on local services.
One resident, Stephen Roke, said that he wanted the cottages to stay – and was concerned about the impact of up to 150 more people in the area on the food hub, doctor’s surgery and transport links.
He said: “Whether it could be given to the people from our own village, who’ve probably been on the list for years anyway, that’s a priority, I don’t see that we should be bringing in new people when we are stressed.
“We have a section of the community which is in the lowest quartile or denomination of deprivation in the country.”
Mr Roke was also concerned that the council would not listen to feedback after previously taking part in a public consultation on a private housing scheme near Longhill School which, despite the negative response, was granted planning permission.
Former Conservative councillor Dee Simson, who chairs the Woodingdean Community Association, said: “We all appreciate there is a need for social housing and there is a need in Woodingdean.
“It’s the location. We’ve all suggested other places.”
She had safeguarding concerns people able to about overlook children with special needs at Downs View School – and Woodingdean Wanderers Football Club losing the use of one of the Victorian cottages.
Mrs Simson, a former mayor of Brighton and Hove, said that the club had temporary use of Ash Cottage.
But it was being held back from accessing funding for a centre of excellence because the lack of a long-term home meant that it was ineligible for the money.
Gary Wayland, who runs Brighton School of Singing and has worked with young people in Woodingdean for 15 years, was also concerned about safeguarding.
He said: “The cottages do so many good things for the community and young people. I think people talking about knocking them down should realise what they do and how good they are.”
John Paul Amos who has lived in Woodingdean for 44 years said that he felt that the process was “deceitful”. He would like to see some of the gaps in the Lockwood flats filled in to provide the same capacity of housing.
He said: “Something that is very important to the village, which is a vast part of our history, is just going to be flattened.
“That’s irreplaceable. There’s a nursery that’s going to be displaced, shifted from one cottage to the end one so they can knock down two other cottages.”
The council said that all feedback would be analysed to inform the proposals and no decision had been made.
The next stage of the process would be to consider the feedback received from the public event to work on a design before submitting a planning application next spring.
The council also said that properties in new schemes were promoted to people in need on the housing register.
The council said: “The proposed development is intended for people with an existing connection to the city which is expected to place less additional demand on local infrastructure than a traditional new-build scheme that attracts significant inward migration.
“Should the project progress, we’ll engage with local stakeholders, including schools, healthcare providers and community organisations, to understand any potential impacts and ensure these are considered as the proposals develop.
“The development’s impact on the local highway network will also be reviewed in consultation with the council’s transport team. This assessment will consider road capacity, traffic movements and pedestrian safety.”
Labour councillor Gill Williams, the council’s cabinet member for housing, said: “We’re still in the very early stages but I’m really pleased to see the proposals for more truly affordable homes coming forward.
“We’re hoping to provide around 40 new high-quality council-rented homes on this under-used site in Warren Road.
“With thousands of households in living in temporary accommodation and many more people on our housing waiting list, these are new homes the city desperately needs.”
The cottages, which date from 1862, were homes for children at the school which was part of the wider Brighton Workhouse and then became children’s homes into the mid 20th century after the abolition of the workhouses in 1930.
The buildings currently house a dentist, nursery, training company and Woodingdean Wanderers.
The public event is due to run from 3pm to 7pm at Woodingdean Library, in Warren Road, on Thursday (1 October). The information will also be on the council website from Monday 5 October to Monday 2 November.
