Architect chosen for £100m Hove Station revamp

12:46pm Tuesday 3rd July 2012 in News By John Keenan

WINNER: Nick Lomax's plans for Hove Station WINNER: Nick Lomax's plans for Hove Station

An architect has been picked for a £100 million transformation of a derelict area.

Developers Matsim Properties has chosen architect Nick Lomax and his firm LCE to redesign the area around Hove Station.

The proposed scheme, revealed last week by The Argus, features five dome-shaped towers, with the tallest 60m high.

The plan will involve the building of several hundred homes and at least 100,000 square feet of office space creating 1,000 jobs.

It will also include a nine-screen Vue cinema and an art gallery. The go-ahead for the transformation of the six-acre site in Conway Street, Ellen Street and Fonthill Road relies on the successful sale of The Argus headquarters in Hollingbury to Brighton and Hove Buses.

Nick Lomax, boss at LCE, which also mastermined the Jubilee Street redevelopment said: “This is the right place to build tall buildings. I was really taken with the developer’s idea for a real mixed-use scheme.

“There is a tension between traditional and modern ideas in the area which has to be sensitively managed but this has to happen quickly. I think we can see work start within 18 months.”

Andy Lambor, managing director of Matsim said his firm choose LCE, based in Western Road Brighton, because the architect’s ideas blended with the developer’s plans.

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Mr Lambor said the size, shape and positioning of the tall towers will evolve as the finer details of the scheme emerge.

He said: “We now get down to detail and start the planning process. We intend to submit our planning application within four months.

“We have a window in time with both the existing tenants at the site and the bus company where everything can fall into place, otherwise the opportunity could be lost.

“We hope our team and the local authority will all work towards delivering a scheme that will transform the area around Hove station.”

Hove MP Mike Weatherley said: “If the team behind this project continues to be open to ideas from those living nearby then I am certainly inclined to support.

“These are early proposals so lots will no doubt change but people need to know that Hove and Brighton are open for business.”

But critics accused the architects and planners of putting forward a crowded, dreary and outsize plan.

The unsuccessful architects competing for the project were Russ Drage, in Fleet Street, Brighton and Orbit in London.

Comments(17)

Wiggsy says...
12:59pm Tue 3 Jul 12

Given the size of the development I'll be interested to see the proposals on how the infrastructure will be able to support this.

Also would prefer to see a purpose built IMAX cinema rather than a multiplex if this all does go ahead.

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Ligand Fields says...
1:12pm Tue 3 Jul 12

Looking at Nick Lomax's 'tache on Linked In right now http://uk.linkedin.c
om/in/nicklomax NICE

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saveHOVE says...
3:05pm Tue 3 Jul 12

Wiggsy wrote:
Given the size of the development I'll be interested to see the proposals on how the infrastructure will be able to support this. Also would prefer to see a purpose built IMAX cinema rather than a multiplex if this all does go ahead.
What is the difference between an IMAX and a multiplex cinema? I'm interested to know. The scheme proposes 9 screens at present.

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saveHOVE says...
3:15pm Tue 3 Jul 12

The saveHOVE report following the meeting on Monday morning with MATSIM's Andy Lambor and LCE's Nick Lomax can be read on the saveHOVE website.

The towers got fatter, apparently, in order to fit in the required number of flats.

The original inspiration for them was a billowing sail. The design should be narrowed back down to that look in order to avoid a heavy, lumpen and downbeat presence on this site that would be a stark mismatch with the Clarendon and Ellen Estate's 10 storey blocks of flats close by.

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brightonline says...
3:57pm Tue 3 Jul 12

It's currently NOT a derelict area? This seems to smack of the Argus wanting to promote and push through the sale of it's own printing works, where the paper used to be printed, for a huge sum of money and downsize to a small office in the town centre where it's small band of reporters can work from.

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OnAPositiveNote says...
4:02pm Tue 3 Jul 12

Looks good. I hope it goes ahead.

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bug eye says...
4:08pm Tue 3 Jul 12

I like the domed gherkin shapes, we need something different and 21st century with great materials such as green walls, glass, metal and stone etc., boring sail shapes and boxey rendered or red brick flats are outdated now. I hope the only compromise would be not to cram too many flats in, but the look is what this city needs and HOVE needs to separate itself from Brighton.
I would like to know if the horrible council flats already there could be renovated in exchange for less social homes on the new site.
I hope the council will not fall back on its archaeic planning policies like they are trying to do for the old Sackville hotel site, or we will end up with bland bland bland. we need more contemporary developments for the hove seafront Kingsway too, to get rid of the mid 20th century styling and be different from brightons regency frontage. finally a great imax cinema and not a multiplex would be better as we have 2 multis in the city already, hove needs quality, and I am pleased to see there is an art gallery proposed too, although would be better at the King Alfred site with the sea views.

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Hovite says...
4:36pm Tue 3 Jul 12

saveHOVE wrote:
The saveHOVE report following the meeting on Monday morning with MATSIM's Andy Lambor and LCE's Nick Lomax can be read on the saveHOVE website.

The towers got fatter, apparently, in order to fit in the required number of flats.

The original inspiration for them was a billowing sail. The design should be narrowed back down to that look in order to avoid a heavy, lumpen and downbeat presence on this site that would be a stark mismatch with the Clarendon and Ellen Estate's 10 storey blocks of flats close by.
Why didn't you finance a design yourself and enter the competition?

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wildejon says...
4:52pm Tue 3 Jul 12

@saveHOVE
IMAX is a different way of filming (70mm film ve 35mm) which when projected needs a much larger screen. The IMAX in London (which is amazing but also a long way to travel!) is 20m tall. Having something like that in Brighton and Hove rather than another standard cinema is a brilliant suggestion. Something other than yet another 'entertainment park' suits the Brighton and Hove vibe for sure.

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alyn, southwick says...
8:22pm Tue 3 Jul 12

brightonline wrote:
It's currently NOT a derelict area? This seems to smack of the Argus wanting to promote and push through the sale of it's own printing works, where the paper used to be printed, for a huge sum of money and downsize to a small office in the town centre where it's small band of reporters can work from.
If it includes all the areas coloured in on the architects drawing it includes some derelict or very old and dilapidated buildings (that look like they are falling down, crumbling and grottey).

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Wiggsy says...
10:21pm Tue 3 Jul 12

saveHOVE wrote:
Wiggsy wrote:
Given the size of the development I'll be interested to see the proposals on how the infrastructure will be able to support this. Also would prefer to see a purpose built IMAX cinema rather than a multiplex if this all does go ahead.
What is the difference between an IMAX and a multiplex cinema? I'm interested to know. The scheme proposes 9 screens at present.
IMAX would distinguish the city with one of the few purpose built IMAX cinema's - refer to either of following for info; http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/IMAX or http://www.bfi.org.u
k/whatson/bfi_imax

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Wiggsy says...
10:26pm Tue 3 Jul 12

wildejon wrote:
@saveHOVE
IMAX is a different way of filming (70mm film ve 35mm) which when projected needs a much larger screen. The IMAX in London (which is amazing but also a long way to travel!) is 20m tall. Having something like that in Brighton and Hove rather than another standard cinema is a brilliant suggestion. Something other than yet another 'entertainment park' suits the Brighton and Hove vibe for sure.
It seems like such a big opportunity being missed that we don't have something like this, and I don't mean the one like in Crawley, but something like the BFI screen you refer to - one can only I guess!!

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Ligand Fields says...
9:30am Wed 4 Jul 12

Knowing Brighton, you're more likely to get an "IMIN" cinema, with some bearded loon showing Super8.

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Killjoy says...
9:49am Wed 4 Jul 12

It would be absolutely brilliant to get an IMAX cinema in Brighton and Hove - Though I would far prefer that Cineworld opened up a site there. They are the cheapest option of 'The Big 3' (Odeon and Vue being the other 2) and, from experience, provide the better customer service. Plus their unlimited pass - something I can't live without as a film student

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Gordtheganjaman says...
11:43am Wed 4 Jul 12

theres enough cinemas and stuff in brighton, they should use this to create something for teenagers to do instead of them going out on friday nights binge drinking! try make a sports complex or just something better than a cinema, make something we havent got but need!!

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wolf miguel says...
8:26pm Wed 4 Jul 12

So more pie in the sky/ pipe dreams/ideas featuring in B'hton & Hove. Just like the Blackrock Ice Rink, Eye, King Alfred, West Pier etc. etc.So I doubt in a recession it would manifest some time soon! It took 50yrs to build a Library & a swimming pool on the Jubilee site.

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Turtledoo says...
10:00am Thu 5 Jul 12

I think its funny how everyone is focused on the cinema! However getting an IMAX is definitely a great idea! I would like a decent gym in the area. I own property near by and I think modernising this estate and adding amenities will not only add value to properties near by but make Hove a place of its own. Hopefully we'll get some decent shops on Blatchinton road and George street as a result of it!

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