New-look gateways to the city

10:13am Wednesday 25th July 2007

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A radical overhaul of three downtrodden and deprived districts has been revealed.

A city business quarter, a cultural centre in St Peter's Church and a public square at the Vogue Gyratory are just three recommendations to inject life into Brighton's London Road, Lewes Road and Preston Road areas.

Two reports outline essential changes to the roads and paint an image of neglect and subtle decay in contrast to the "upbeat and modern image" of the area.

Brighton and Hove City Council plans to transform Lewes Road into an academic corridor including:

• A public square at the Vogue Gyratory.

• Grants for shopfronts and a ban on fast food outlets.

• Moving Moulsecoomb station southwards to cater for the new Preston Barracks redevelopment, which will include hundreds of new homes.

• A tree-lined Lewes Road and improvements to Saunders Park.

The report says transforming the traffic-choked gyratory, where Lewes Road, Upper Lewes Road, Bear Road and Hollingdean Road meet, is crucial.

Sainsbury's and the petrol station should be knocked down, the report suggests, and redeveloped.

The consultants advise: "Remodelling the Vogue Gyratory and with it redeveloping adjacent sites has the potential to transform the Lewes Road corridor, to eliminate an area of very poor urban quality and pedestrian environment and to provide a better link between the high street section of Lewes Road to the south and the broader, dual carriageway section to the north.

"Until substantial remodelling takes place, the Vogue will continue to blight the image, built and pedestrian environments and economic vitality of the Lewes Road corridor."

London Road could become the new cultural and business centre of the city, the report suggests. Proposals include:

• A "mini City of London" in the New England Quarter with tall buildings.

• New 20mph roads.

• St Peter's Church transformed into art studios and a cultural centre.

• A one-way, bus-only London Road.

• The Open Market modelled on Borough Market, Southwark, London.

• Restoration and improvements to shop facades.

• Improvements to the run-down car park to the west of London Road and the possible creation of another to the east.

• A green boulevard leading from The Level to the seafront, cutting the fourlane carriageway to the west down to a bus lane and moving all other traffic to the east.

Tony Mernagh, the head of Brighton and Hove Business Forum, said a new business quarter had the potential to transform London Road.

He said: "There is nothing better than putting lots of people into an area which will then respond to their needs.We really need to get as much as possible out of that space."

The report reads: "St Peter's Church has the potential to become the lynch pin for the cultural quarter. As such, any future uses of it should look to strengthen and exemplify the concept and link between the cultural quarter and the commercial quarter.

The report also calls for the council to help bring the long-derelict Astoria building back into use.

Preston Road is criticised by the consultants for its un-let, run-down and inappropriate commercial buildings.

Recommendations include:

• Intensifying development between South Road and Dyke Road Drive, bringing buildings closer to the road.

• Transforming the viaduct into a landmark with imaginative lighting at night.

• Using space under the viaduct "for creative business looking for bespoke accommodation in a high quality, unusual environment".

Councillors will consider the regeneration strategies - by planners Urban Initiatives and transport consultants Peter Brett Associates - at a policy and resources committee meeting tomorrow.

Could the plans transform the city for the better or would it be millions of pounds of money that could be better spent elsewhere?

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