A GROUP of squatters will be evicted from a property they have occupied after losing a court case.

The activists, rough sleepers, and protesters who had taken up residence in a former University of Brighton building in Circus Street were denied an adjournment at the County Court yesterday morning.

It means the university’s application for a possession order was granted by the court and demolition, scheduled to begin on May 2, can go ahead.

District Judge Susan Brown told Barry McGee, representing the squatters, she had sought to allow them some leeway but said: “I regret to say I do accede to the application.”

She said: “It’s not a question of whether a judge has sympathy, or empathy, the problem with being a judge is you do have to apply the law.”

A possession order was handed to the squatters on Sunday and the group was petitioning the court for an eight-week delay so they could crowdfund a legal defence and put together their case.

However Tom Roscoe, acting on behalf of the university and Brighton and Hove City Council, which is also involved due a legal technicality, said: “That’s not how it works.”

He explained that legally only two days’ notice was required to be given and that, for an adjournment to be granted, the group had to present at least the beginnings of its case.

A spokesman for the university said: “We are pleased that the court has approved the application for a possession order.

“The building in question is currently vacant as it is being prepared for demolition as part of enabling works for the imminent redevelopment of the Circus Street site which includes much-needed affordable housing and student accommodation.

“If any of the individuals in the squat are students at the university and experiencing homelessness or any other issues then we would strongly urge them to make contact with us.”

He could not confirm when repossession would take place.