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Anger at plan to build 24 flats

10:11am Monday 1st December 2008 in


Residents took to the street this weekend to protest against plans to construct a seven-storey building.

About 50 people from the Highcroft Villas area of Brighton attended a demonstration on Saturday to show their opposition to a plan to build flats on nearby green land.

In January, Brighton and Hove City Council’s planning committee refused Kingsbury Estates’ plans for 24 flats in Highcroft Villas.

The proposed site was previously used for allotments and has never been built on because it has a chalk escarpment, which is home to badgers and protected slow worms.

But the developers appealed to the planning inspectorate and now a public appeal will be held on December 9.

Labour councillor Kevin Allen attended the march. He said: “Both the council and members of the community have said no consistently and still these people don’t get the message.

“What they are proposing is totally over the top for the area and we will continue to fight them.”

Many residents and nature enthusiasts are objecting to the building on the grounds that it will reduce the variation of wildlife in the area and bring more traffic to an already congested part of the city.

Angela Kensett, 51, who lives opposite the proposed site, said: “For 32 years we have watched the seasons come and go along the Preston Valley but if they go ahead with this building, that will be lost forever.”

The Prestonville Community Association organised the demonstration.

Member Debbie Marsh, 52, said: “We organised the protest to gather support for the public appeal. The council has backed us in this and we want to show support.

“We’ve protested against building on this land for ten years, but they keep coming back with new plans."

What do you think of the plan to build new flats? Tell us below.

Comments(11)

jah100 says...
10:26am Mon 1 Dec 08

who would wont to spend there lives in highcroft villass anyway??????

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Human Machine says...
10:54am Mon 1 Dec 08

Some of the flats in Highcroft Villas are quite pleasant. a friend of mine used to live there and it was really nice.

I don't think a seven storey flat is in keeping with the area and would be a complete monstrosity.

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Nolan says...
11:01am Mon 1 Dec 08

Keep this area a green site/open space so everybody can enjoy it. A block of flats here would cause even more traffic chaos and Brighton would lose historic views of the Downs and Preston Park village.

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Arther Daley says...
12:54pm Mon 1 Dec 08

People need homes Miss Kensett, Im sorry you wont be able to see the leaves on the trees drop, perhaps a walk to the park may remedy this?

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Jonathon says...
12:56pm Mon 1 Dec 08

I am not really going to comment until we have heard from Arther but I will say Highcroft Villas is not exactly Bennett Drive in Hove. Over to you Arther.

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jaygee says...
3:33pm Mon 1 Dec 08

move the badgers ,move the slowworms job done.what is it with the nimbys of this world and in truth who would want to live in that area anyway

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Moon Pig says...
3:33pm Mon 1 Dec 08

Angela Kensett, 51, who lives opposite the proposed site, said: “For 32 years we have watched the seasons come and go along the Preston Valley but if they go ahead with this building, that will be lost forever.”


Some might say you've been lucky to have had it for that long dear.

Of course the existing residents don't want the land developed on, but that doesn't make it a bad idea.

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markharrison says...
8:40am Tue 2 Dec 08

About 50 people from the Highcroft Villas area of Brighton attended a demonstration on Saturday to show their opposition to a plan to build flats on nearby green land.

they would rather see homeless people sleep in tents in the local grave yard.I BET THEY ALL DRIVE VOLVOS. Unfortunately some (not all ) people living in hove think they live in monte carlo.GET REAL...

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quirke says...
8:56am Tue 2 Dec 08

It seems extraordinary in this current economic climate that anyone would consider building an ugly and massive block of flats block on this small piece of land; a steep, crumbling chalk face, right on a busy and noisy railway line. With so many large developments over the past couple of years already completed and, I note, 150 flats to be erected on the Royal Alexandra site., do we need any more homes at this time, particularly at the expense of wildlife, traffic congestion and children’s safety.

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quirke says...
9:25am Tue 2 Dec 08

markharrison wrote:
About 50 people from the Highcroft Villas area of Brighton attended a demonstration on Saturday to show their opposition to a plan to build flats on nearby green land. they would rather see homeless people sleep in tents in the local grave yard.I BET THEY ALL DRIVE VOLVOS. Unfortunately some (not all ) people living in hove think they live in monte carlo.GET REAL...
Do you really think these flats will be providing affordable housing or provide a shelter for the homeless?

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harwood says...
1:59pm Tue 2 Dec 08

Good! Knock it down!

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