Planning brief for historic Hove baths 'will cause delay' (From The Argus)
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Planning brief for historic Hove baths 'will cause delay'
8:20am Saturday 2nd March 2013 in News By Neil Vowles
Planning brief for historic Hove baths 'will cause delay'
A developer has said a council move to shape his seafront redevelopment project of historic baths will delay it further.
Brighton and Hove City Council is calling on residents to suggest how the redevelopment of Medina House in Kings Esplanade, Hove, should look.
Developer Sirus Taghan said he was due to submit new plans for the site he has owned for 14 years but will now have to wait until the planning brief is finalised.
Conservationists welcomed the move as “a step in the right direction” but argued for tighter requirements on the building’s height and urged for greater emphasis to be placed on the historic significance of the site.
Council officers have drawn up a draft planning brief for the site which calls on any future development proposal to “not overpower” neighbouring properties and to retain the original Arabic influenced tiling on a neighbouring property.
A failure by developers to follow the conditions of a planning brief could see their plans rejected although it has no formal legal powers.
Mr Taghan said new plans for the site, which had cost him £1 million in architects’ fees since 1999, would involve an eight storey property which would be “dwarfed” by neighbouring buildings.
He added: “It’s unusual for a council to order a planning brief for a smaller project, usually it’s for something large like King Alfred.
'Fascinating history'
“We were ready to submit the application but were told by the council not to until we get this brief.”
Valerie Paynter, of Save Hove, said: “What the planning brief will do is limited because it doesn’t have statutory force but it does have to be taken into consideration and Mr Taghan can’t ignore it.”
Geoffrey Bowden, the chair of the council’s economic development and culture committee said: “Medina House has a fascinating history and is well loved by many residents.
“I look forward to seeing the draft proposals which I hope will pave the way for potential developers to draw up a scheme that will see the building and surrounding area preserved for future generations.”
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Comments(6)
Martha Gunn
says...
12:25pm Sat 2 Mar 13
saveHOVE
says...
4:12pm Sat 2 Mar 13
deanaprior
says...
9:37pm Sat 2 Mar 13
So why does he own a building and allow it to go derelict and subject the neighbours to 14 years of squatters, street drinkers , fire risks and vermin.
Its an investment . Its a useful investment in which he can claim to have spent one million on architects fees.
With prices in Brighton rising , its a good investment, if he gets a ridiculous 8 storeys planning permission its a great investment.
As long as he doesn't have to spend any money to look after the building he will continue to be the property developer who doesn't develop property.
Brighton01
says...
8:46pm Sun 3 Mar 13
Joshiman
says...
9:15am Mon 4 Mar 13
real and submit acceptable plans.
Baffled of Brighton says...
9:44am Sat 2 Mar 13
In other news the fire brigade were called to Kings Esplanade in Hove to aid a gentleman whose pants were on fire.