RESIDENTS and Green activists are trying to stop the development of houses on a school field.

Pressure is mounting on Brighton and Hove City Council to reject Varndean College’s planning application to build ten housing units on its fields at its Surrenden Road site.

A total of 122 public objections have been submitted to the council in contrast to only 14 in support. Five of the city’s town councillors, from the surrounding Withdean and Patcham Wards, have also submitted 16 detailed objections.

Councillor Ken Norman, for Withdean Ward, confirmed to The Argus that the Conservative representatives of Withdean have not received any support for the proposal other than from the developers.

“But we have received numerous objections to the proposals via letters, emails and phone calls,” he said.

The action group Green Varndean has been set up to campaign against the plans.

It is organised by a core working group of 29 local residents.

They delivered more than 2,000 flyers to homes before Christmas to raise awareness of the application and encourage residents to get involved.

While the application noted environmental concerns and mentions the design has evolved to protect existing trees and encourage biodiversity within the site where possible, ‘Green Varndean’ believer the development “will destroy desperately needed green space which includes valuable wildlife habitats which are unlikely to recover”.

Public concerns include road safety issues, increased traffic and difficulty parking. Residents fear greater competition for school places, reduced sea views and the loss of an open space. The modern design of the housing units has also been criticised.

The Principle of Varndean College Phil Harland told The Argus: “I appreciate this is a controversial application but given that this is an enabling application that addresses two vital issues for our city (education and housing) my expectation is that it will be successful. It will allow the college, as a top performing Sixth Form College, to further develop its provision for current and future students, whilst at the same time making much needed accommodation available”.