OVERAMBITIOUS housing targets will damage the Sussex countryside and cause friction between neighbouring councils.

This is the warning after other councils were told they must work with Brighton and Hove City Council to help meet its targets for 13,200 homes by 2030.

The Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) has warned that asking other councils to help could harm what makes the county special after part I of the City Plan was agreed this week laying down a blueprint for more homes and binding neighbouring authorities into building homes as part of the target.

CPRE Sussex director Kia Trainor said: “The government is driving the inspectors to really ramp up the housing targets and we have to look at whether that is going to change Sussex and the very nature of what makes it very special.

“This will create problems, Adur for example are looking at building on flood plains which does not match with what the Government has been saying following the floods around Christmas.

“It will make it more difficult for councils as they are all finding it hard already to meet their own needs and it could make relations between councils quite difficult.”

Sussex councillors said it was beneficial for all to cooperate although concerns have been raised that neighbouring areas might inherit the soaring house prices of Brighton and Hove.

Andy Smith, Lewes District Council leader, said: “I think in many ways we will benefit, we will be gaining in terms of council tax for example.

“My only concern is we don’t want to inherit the house prices of Brighton and Hove.”

Green councillor Phelim MacCafferty, who led Brighton and Hove City Council negotiations on the City Plan, said he was “thrilled” it had now been agreed but warned that the difficult work still lay ahead in the City Plan part II focusing on specific plots to be developed which could stir public opposition.

He said: “Part II is arguably the more critical point where people learn potentially that the field out the back of their house should be developed.

“It is going to require a lot of honest discussion with communities about what is happening and where.

“Duty to cooperate is a legally binding agreement and I’m pleased that we avoided it causing tension so far.

“If an authority did not uphold this duty, then their local plan could fall and then all the others would fall like dominoes and we would be with the National Planning Policy Framework which really changes the relationship between people and planning.”

Local authorities are keen to avoid clashes that have happened elsewhere in the country - a dispute between Luton and Central Bedfordshire councils over housing numbers went to the Court of Appeal leaving taxpayers with a six-figure legal bill.

EXPANSION ON HOUSING SCHEME PROPOSAL

The Argus: The redevelopment of the Royal Sussex County Hospital will be among the major works taking place in Eastern Road and Edwards Street area.

THE area around Eastern Road and Edward Street is set for 515 homes, up from the original 470 proposed, as well as up to 23,200 sq m of new employment space.

Major works in this area will include the long-awaited £486million redevelopment of the Royal Sussex County Hospital which is already under way as well as the redevelopment of the job centre and demolition of the “wedding cake” former offices of American Express to make way for up to 20,000 sq m of office floor space, a minimum of 65 apartments, shops, cafés and restaurants.

Further development at Freshfield Road Business Park and Gala Bingo Hall could bring new light industrial units, warehouses and a minimum of 110 homes.

MARINA SET FOR DEVELOPMENT

The Argus: Brighton Marina will be expected to accommodate 1,938 additional homes by 2030.

BRIGHTON Marina will be expected to accommodate 1,938 additional homes by 2030 including the 853 new apartments currently under construction.

There could be up to 1,000 new homes built within the inner harbour and 85 on the gas works site.

In addition, 2,000 sq m of employment space and 5,000 sq m of retail space will be added.

Any future development of the marina will need to balance uses with an emphasis towards boating, surfing, leisure and recreation as well as enhancing the current shopping experience.

HOUSING PROPOSAL IS REVISED

The Argus: New plans for almost 200 homes by Hove Station were unveiled in November.

THE amount of housing expected around the Hove Station area has been revised downwards from 630 to 525 alongside 1,000 sq m of employment space.

Previous plans for the £100 million Hove Square, including a supermarket, nine-screen cinema, 90,000 sq ft of office space for about 1,250 jobs and about 380 homes in five high-rise blocks up to 22 storeys high, were pulled in 2012.

New plans for 178 apartments, 21,500 sq ft of employment space and 2,500 sq ft of small flexible use space at ground level with room for expansion for start ups and small businesses over a small part of the land were unveiled in November.

GREENFIELD SITE TRANSFORMED

The Argus: Toad's Hole Valley could become home to Hove's newest neighbourhood.

HOVE’S newest neighbourhood at Toad’s Hole Valley is set to take shape over the next 15 years.

The greenfield site close to the A27 will be transformed to become home to a minimum of 700 new occupants with around half the properties set to be large family homes.

There will also be the construction of a new secondary school over five hectares and public open space including children’s play space and sports facilities.

Also on the site will be a new multi-use community facility to include a community meeting place, a doctor’s surgery and a resource promoting links to the South Downs National Park.

NEW DEVELOPMENTS TO TAKE PLACE IN LEWES ROAD AREA

The Argus: The Advanced Engineering Centre will form part of the University of Brighton's £150 million redevelopment scheme.

THE Lewes Road area will take 875 new homes by 2030, a figure revised upwards from the previously proposed 810.

There will also be more than 15,000 sq m of new offices.

Key development sites will include Preston Barracks and neighbouring University of Brighton, providing a business school, 10,600 sq m of employment floor space including an innovation centre, 750 student rooms and 300 homes. 

Land south of The Keep will be developed to create 5,000 sq m of office space while former Falmer High School land could be used for new housing, student accommodation, offices, car park, a permanent home for the Bridge Community Education Centre and for Brighton Aldridge Community Academy’s pupil referral unit.

FEWER HOMES ARE REQUIRED

SHOREHAM Harbour is now being asked to produce 300 homes, rather than 400, as well as 7,500 sq m of employment space.

The city council will work alongside Adur District Council, West Sussex County Council, Shoreham Port Authority and other partners to support the long-term regeneration of Shoreham Harbour.

Falling within Brighton and Hove City Council boundaries, Aldrington Basin and North Quayside will also be developed for new and improved port operational facilities as well as other non-port employment uses.

A wider figure of 10,000 homes for the port area was identified as far back as 2009.