Plans to demolish Victorian building submitted

10:51am Sunday 12th August 2007

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Plans to demolish a Victorian building to make way for flats and a GP surgery have been submitted.

The "landmark" Royal Alexandra Hospital for Sick Children, Dyke Road, Brighton, would be knocked down under proposals submitted to Brighton and Hove City Council by Taylor Wimpey.

While conservationists and residents' associations have claimed the current much-loved building must be saved, architects employed by the builders say the structure is of little value.

David Lewis Associates, which provides expert witnesses for building disputes and planning appeals, have drawn up a conservation impact study which concludes that the site is of little architectural merit or value.

It reads: "I have concluded without doubt that the proposal will result in a development that both removes an untidy and redundant hospital complex of little architectural merit or value that detracts from the appearance and character of the conservation area and its setting on Dyke Road and will result in a vastly enhanced environment including proposed buildings and gardens that will respect its setting and very considerably and significantly enhance the appearance, character and quality of the conservation area."

But in a council document, the site is described as "an important part of Brighton life and a well known local landmark".

And last night, Roger Amerena, chairman of the Montpelier and Clifton Hill Association, which is the conservation group for the Montpelier and Clifton Hill Conservation Area, said he could not support the proposal.

He said: "It is a landmark building and it could be made into a housing development.

"Instead they want to remove it without that option having been given a chance.

"The building that is being proposed would be more appropriate for a smoke infested town in Eastern Germany."

He added that he hoped Wimpey would help fund the restoration of a nearby, listed coach house, which is a community project called the Clifton Hill Coach House, owned by the City of Brighton and Hove Historic Buildings Conservation Trust with 64 partners.

Just over 150 homes, a GP surgery, pharmacy and community green are planned for the Dyke Road site, sold for £10 million.

A consultation run by the builders found that 98 per cent supported the surgery, 95 per cent the green, 19 per cent support the project as it is and 39 per cent backed the scheme with changes.

But an earlier survey carried out by the Montpelier and Clifton Hill Association and West Hill Residents' Association last year, found two out of three people living nearby wanted the buildings to be saved.

An application was submitted to English Heritage to list the hospital but it was turned down because much of the exterior and internal features had been altered.

The new development will include a mix of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, with affordable housing including key worker homes, shared ownership schemes and low cost housing to help first time buyers.

Richard Matthews, of George Wimpey, said the GP surgery had been enlarged after resident feedback.

He said: "The consultation feedback provided useful suggestions about the design of the new buildings, which have been taken on board.

"The result is a revised proposal that incorporates feedback from the local community and will secure the future of this important site, providing new homes and community benefits."

He added that the design of the building had been changed to create more of a landmark and align the three blocks along Dyke Road to mirror the Victorian villas.

The architects, PRC, have designed the Van Allen Building on Marine Parade, Brighton, and the Berkeley Homes project opposite Preston Park.

Plans to lock the community green at night and include discreet lighting have also been added.

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