Plans to allow up to 47 people to live in a former school building for two years have been recommended for approval when they go before the council’s Planning Committee next week.
The application, by Lowe Management, seeks to convert the former Brighton Girls Junior School site, in Radinden Manor Road, Hove, into a large shared house – or house in multiple occupation (HMO).
People are already living on the site as property guardians to protect the vacant building, making the application retrospective.
A report to Brighton and Hove City Council’s Planning Committee said that the two-year period would start from the date when planning permission is approved.
Draft conditions on the planning application require the appointment and retention of a head guardian, unannounced monthly property inspections, monthly visits by Lowe Management’s community managers, a 24-hour maintenance service and vetting of occupants.
Brighton Girls moved out of the building in 2021 after consolidating the junior and senior school on its Montpelier Road site, in Brighton, but it continues to use the playing field.
The plans include turning the three-storey building into 47 single-occupancy bedrooms, with 13 on the ground floor, 17 on the first floor and 17 more on the second floor.
The shared facilities would include a kitchen, dining room and communal room in the former school hall. There would be bathrooms and toilets throughout the building.
Independent councillor Samer Bagaeen raised concerns about the building being used as an HMO without planning permission with the council’s planning enforcement team.
Councillor Bagaeen said: “The fact that this HMO already exists must not give the applicant an advantage.
“The application should be judged on exactly the same planning merits as it would have been had permission been sought before a single resident moved in.”
There are 20 objections to the plans on the council’s website and two statements in support.
An anonymous neighbour, whose details were redacted by the council, reflected Councillor Bagaeen’s concerns.
The neighbour said: “Work has proceeded over recent months – roof repairs, classroom conversions and creation of 47 living units – without following legal and council procedures.
“Someone has authorised this … while the council appears to have made no attempt to enforce its own planning rules. This is planning hypocrisy.
“Residents have already committed to moving, apparently unaware permission could be refused.”
Another anonymous objector, whose details were also redacted, said: “It is clear that the application is not for temporary use or for the reasons stated, ie, prevention of damage or illegal occupation.
“The previous school caretaker was able to provide perfectly adequate oversight for the property and a security guard could perform the same function.
“It certainly should not take 47 full-time residents to deter the illegal and anti-social behaviour the application describes.”
Conservative councillor Ivan Lyons asked for the application to go before the council’s Planning Committee because he shared residents’ concerns.
The building was Cardinal Newman Catholic School’s lower school before all year groups were brought together on the main site in The Upper Drive.
It was originally built as Cottesmore St Mary Secondary School.
The council’s Planning Committee is due to meet at Hove Town Hall from 2pm on Wednesday 7 October. The meeting is scheduled to be webcast.
