Expert criticises plan for 17-storey tower block on Hove seafront

Peter Wynne Rees, CBE, professor of places and city planning at University College London’s Faculty of the Built Environment, has criticised the plans for the cylindrical tower on the site of the old Sackville Hotel in Kingsway, Hove.

The professor warned “building tall should be a last resort” and added the first development would “act as a precedent for other developers to follow suit.

He said: “Tall buildings use their sites less efficiently and leave unusable open space around the edges of the development. "Circular buildings on square sites are particularly bad in this respect.

“As it’s possible to achieve high-density housing without building tall in all the major cities of Europe, this must even hold true in Hove."

He added: “Higher housing density is to be welcomed, as a way of improving the sustainability of local services in urban areas, but high-rise does not mean high-density.

"European cities achieve dense residential occupation with city blocks built around central courtyards or gardens rising no higher than 5-6 stories in height.

“This tried and tested form of building produces good homes, an active retail street frontage and 'defensible' space.”

The 183ft (56m) residential building, which would be the tallest on Hove seafront, is proposed for the former site on the corner of Sackville Gardens and Kingsway.

The Hyde Group is behind the proposal and the building has been designed by Brighton-based Yelo Architects.

The tower block will feature roof gardens, balconies and penthouse apartments.

Previously Dr Samer Bagaeen, a planning expert from the University of Brighton, urged others to back the proposal, saying “the fact of the matter is we need to build and if we need to go up, we need to go up”.

Professor Rees's comment came at the same time as a resident’s meeting was due to be held at St Peters Church Hall, Portland Road last night to discuss the plans with the No to Sackville Tower campaign group attending.