Toads Hole Valley scheme welcomed by Brighton and Hove City Council leader Jason Kitcat

7:00pm Friday 14th September 2012 in News By Bill Gardner

Hove development scheme unveiled Hove development scheme unveiled

A MULTIMILLION pound development creating hundreds of homes, a new secondary school and a business park could be built on a key city site.

Developers have revealed a vision to turn Toads Hole Valley in Hove into a “new community” of homes, shops and offices.

Council bosses and business leaders have welcomed the proposals but opponents say the plans would leave a “hideous blot on the landscape”.

Battle lines have been drawn on whether Brighton and Hove City Council should include the site in the City Plan, which will guide development in the city until 2030.

Before the views of thousands of people are considered, The Argus can exclusively reveal the first plans for the 40 hectare triangular site, which borders King George VI Avenue, the A27 and Downland Drive.

The blueprint, drawn up by architects who have been working with the owners, includes a new residential neighbourhood of 750 homes, a ‘community hub’ of shops, leisure and health facilities and a business park with space for about 900 jobs.

As part of the plan, “inappropriate vegetation” would be removed from the steep western side of the valley to make way for a new Ecology Park and improved cycle routes to the South Downs.

At the foot of the hill a secondary school with an “inspirational learning environment” would be built to serve the new community.

King George VI Avenue would be replaced with a new “linear greenway” for cyclists and families with traffic redirected around the north edge of the plot.

To the east, a business park with 25,000m² floorspace would be built close to the junction with the A27 to form “a new gateway” to Brighton and Hove.

At the centre of the development would be tree-lined residential streets with “informal open spaces”, designed to discourage car use.

The whole development would be based around the principles of One Planet Living, an eco-philosophy designed to cut people’s carbon footprint.

But with hundreds of residents campaigning against plans to build on the “green lung”, the developers have a fight on their hands before building work can begin.

Conservative councillors Vanessa Brown and Jayne Bennett , who both represent Hove Park, have been vocal opponents of development in Toads Hole Valley for years.

Coun Brown said: “I cannot see why a supposedly Green administration would want to concrete over one of the last urban fringe sites in our city.

“I think these plans would leave a hideous blot on a beautiful landscape. We should be concentrating on the brownfield sites instead.

“The vast majority of residents here are absolutely appalled by these plans.”

But Tony Mernagh, chief executive of the Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership, welcomed the blueprint and said it was “just what our city deserves”.

He said: “The first thing to say is that this is a long way from happening – there isn’t a lot of detail yet.

“But it’s a fantastic scheme that would help address three of the main problems this city faces – our housing shortage, our lack of school places and our lack of high quality business space.

“It would also improve the lives of residents nearby.”

Martin Carpenter, planning director of Tunbridge Wells-based Enplan, which has been working with the owners, drafted the plan.

He said: “We realise the critical importance of this land resource for the city’s future and the exciting potential it has for local communities when it is opened up and put to a positive use.

“Our vision is to create a new and mixed-use neighbourhood, that is well integrated with the adjoining communities and an exemplar of sustainable living, working, learning and enjoyment for the benefit of the city’s residents both present and in the future. “This is definitely not a final or fixed plan, but is designed to enable and encourage discussions. “We intend to consult widely on this over the coming months and use the feedback to further the development of a more detailed masterplan.”

Council leader Jason Kitcat said: “I’m very excited the proposal in this area is being developed according to One Planet Living principles and bringing high-quality housing for the city.

“It’s the last space in the city. It would complete the city.

“I understand people will see it as losing green space but in reality access is prevented.

“We’re not the ones developing it but we’re aware it has been privately owned for decades and they have the intention of developing it.

“By including it in the City Plan we have some control over what goes on the site.”

Coun Kitcat said planning and procurement details were left to the developers but he hoped building could start by 2015.

For more details visit www.toadsholevalley.co.uk.

What do you think of the plan? Tell us by writing to our letters page, emailing letters@theargus.co.uk or leaving a comment at theargus.co.uk/news

Comments(50)

leobrighton says...
8:25pm Fri 14 Sep 12

The site is already a hideous blot on the landscape so no change there then. Development can improve it but no doubt the local self serving homeowners will be out in force to try to deny others the opportunity for housing and schools for their children.

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BrightonArchitect says...
8:58pm Fri 14 Sep 12

Hang on a minute. What happened to the localism bill. Who's been consulted about what the city wants here? You can't just draw a housing estate any more. You need to consult. Or is the coalition planning reform a sham?

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HJarrs says...
9:13pm Fri 14 Sep 12

Whatever administration was in power, this site would be developed and if the Torys were in power they would probably wet themselves if they could get a Tescos on there.

We have a housing crisis and the best place environmentally to build the houses we need is in the city first (and all major potentail sites are in the city plan) and then the immediate fringe of which Toads Hole Valley is a part. What is important is that this is a scheme of high density, low environmental impact and high visual quality. It is entirely possible to create such a development that could integrate green roofs and walls to keep most of the biodiversity of the site and make it blend in to the landscape. It should be designed such that all that would be visible from above would be a few small roads, vegetation and solar panels. I have seen what is possible in many European cities and at developments like BEDZED in London and we can we can do this in B&H.

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rolivan says...
10:32pm Fri 14 Sep 12

There is a need for a School and Housing but absolutely NO NEED FOR A BUSINESS PARK.There are thousands of sq feet of Office space empty already and with American Express moving into a bigger premises there will be even more in Edward St.

Report this post »

rolivan says...
10:38pm Fri 14 Sep 12

BrightonArchitect wrote:
Hang on a minute. What happened to the localism bill. Who's been consulted about what the city wants here? You can't just draw a housing estate any more. You need to consult. Or is the coalition planning reform a sham?
If I were You I would concentrate on Saltdean Lido.There are going to be big problems there with the amount of Taxpayers money that will be needed.Did you not know about the Asbestos?

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voiceofthescoombe says...
10:54pm Fri 14 Sep 12

This is the same bit of land criss crossed with motorbike tracks?
Its not a green lung its a bit of scrub land cut off by roads and not used for anything.

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mustaphaLeeko says...
12:37am Sat 15 Sep 12

rolivan wrote:
There is a need for a School and Housing but absolutely NO NEED FOR A BUSINESS PARK.There are thousands of sq feet of Office space empty already and with American Express moving into a bigger premises there will be even more in Edward St.
You're wrong about American Express, it got planning permission with the proviso that the existing building would be demolished when the new one is completed!

The demolition is scheduled to be done by 2016.

http://www.epr.co.uk
/projects/architects
-current-projects/am
ex-house/

Report this post »

martyt says...
1:26am Sat 15 Sep 12

leobrighton wrote:
The site is already a hideous blot on the landscape so no change there then. Development can improve it but no doubt the local self serving homeowners will be out in force to try to deny others the opportunity for housing and schools for their children.
as it will be a private build who will be able/want to live up/down there , it will be some feat to build let alone sell houses on a site like that ,i for one would not want to face a hill like that to get home ,its hard enough to drive up it let alone have to walk it

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rolivan says...
1:48am Sat 15 Sep 12

mustaphaLeeko wrote:
rolivan wrote:
There is a need for a School and Housing but absolutely NO NEED FOR A BUSINESS PARK.There are thousands of sq feet of Office space empty already and with American Express moving into a bigger premises there will be even more in Edward St.
You're wrong about American Express, it got planning permission with the proviso that the existing building would be demolished when the new one is completed!

The demolition is scheduled to be done by 2016.

http://www.epr.co.uk

/projects/architects

-current-projects/am

ex-house/
Sorry I don't understand, do you mean they are going to demolish the Old American Express building on the south side of Edward St, if so what are they replacinbg it with?

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george smith says...
8:09am Sat 15 Sep 12

As part of the plan, “inappropriate vegetation” would be removed from the steep western side of the valley to make way for a new Ecology Park and improved cycle routes to the South Downs.

Eco fascists at it again; whats wrong with a few bits as nature has developed, and a few swings and flowerbeds

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Maxwell's Ghost says...
8:21am Sat 15 Sep 12

There is nothing environmentally friendly about building homes and neither will it solve a local housing crisis as there is no guarantee that local people will be able to afford the homes. The estate could attract another few thousand people from outside the county so although helping to solve the national housing crisis local folk could still be priced out.
Also buy to let landlords are still and investors are still the top purchasers so we could end up with another estate owned by private landlords who don't look after the stock and don't manage tenants as we have in other areas of the city.
Finally, anyone who has lived out that way will tell you that relying on buses and public transport to get to facilities is impossible so thinking it will be a green estate is laughable.
It will be a three car home estate.

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paul76 says...
9:42am Sat 15 Sep 12

The main American Express building has to be knocked down. The building opposite, 154 Edward Street, is now up for lease.

The housing development will be terrible. Firstly there is enough traffic using King George V without routing it through a housing estate. And if the Greens think informal spaces will discourage car ownership they are very much mistaken.

Buses there are terrible. Currently only the 5B is closest running along Hangleton Road, but that never turns up 50% of the time.

And how will a business park there be a gateway. Surely most traffic will come in down the A23 and that would be the gateway.

And like someone else said, a lot of housing will be rented out, so it won't help people who want to buy their own property.

It's a bad idea and opposed by lots of local residents, but when there was a consultation meeting on it, the good old Greens had pretty much said it was happening regardless. Perhaps the developers all bought them a shrub each or something.

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Morpheus says...
9:50am Sat 15 Sep 12

Big on jargon, short on facts.

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deanaprior says...
11:00am Sat 15 Sep 12

Looking at the plan and imagining 750 new homes its going to look like the New England Quarter, concrete blocks with wooden relief that rapidly turns to grey. I understand Brighton needs new homes its just all the ******** we're told to describe concrete blocks.

Developers have revealed a vision.
A community hub.
Inspirational learning environment
New linear greenway
One planet living
eco-philosophy

Its an estate

Report this post »

Hovite says...
11:43am Sat 15 Sep 12

Bill Gardner, could you upload a higher resolution image?

It's difficult to have an opinion on a blur, especially the bottom right images.

I am quite happy for a sensible development there but not sure about taking away KGV Avenue, it's one of the few main routes in and out of Hove, and the last thing this new development needs is traffic clogging it up.

Has the council used a virtual traffic model to assess the impact of congestion and pollution it will cause queuing in and out of the area. I would be very interested to see this if they have one.

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mustaphaLeeko says...
11:43am Sat 15 Sep 12

rolivan wrote:
mustaphaLeeko wrote:
rolivan wrote:
There is a need for a School and Housing but absolutely NO NEED FOR A BUSINESS PARK.There are thousands of sq feet of Office space empty already and with American Express moving into a bigger premises there will be even more in Edward St.
You're wrong about American Express, it got planning permission with the proviso that the existing building would be demolished when the new one is completed!

The demolition is scheduled to be done by 2016.

http://www.epr.co.uk


/projects/architects


-current-projects/am


ex-house/
Sorry I don't understand, do you mean they are going to demolish the Old American Express building on the south side of Edward St, if so what are they replacinbg it with?
Hi rolivan,

Yes, the old main building is to be demolished completely!

They are not replacing it with anything, and I understand just landscaping the area it was on.

Report this post »

mustaphaLeeko says...
11:48am Sat 15 Sep 12

Hovite wrote:
Bill Gardner, could you upload a higher resolution image?

It's difficult to have an opinion on a blur, especially the bottom right images.

I am quite happy for a sensible development there but not sure about taking away KGV Avenue, it's one of the few main routes in and out of Hove, and the last thing this new development needs is traffic clogging it up.

Has the council used a virtual traffic model to assess the impact of congestion and pollution it will cause queuing in and out of the area. I would be very interested to see this if they have one.
Why does he have to upload a higher resolution image?

He provided a link to the developers website and all the info you need...

"For more details visit www.toadsholevalley.
co.uk. "


Go look, I did, it looks fine to me apart from the rubbish about restricting car use, lol.

Report this post »

Hovite says...
11:51am Sat 15 Sep 12

Thanks, I missed the link. Still could do with a higher res image though

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rolivan says...
12:18pm Sat 15 Sep 12

mustaphaLeeko wrote:
rolivan wrote:
mustaphaLeeko wrote:
rolivan wrote:
There is a need for a School and Housing but absolutely NO NEED FOR A BUSINESS PARK.There are thousands of sq feet of Office space empty already and with American Express moving into a bigger premises there will be even more in Edward St.
You're wrong about American Express, it got planning permission with the proviso that the existing building would be demolished when the new one is completed!

The demolition is scheduled to be done by 2016.

http://www.epr.co.uk



/projects/architects



-current-projects/am



ex-house/
Sorry I don't understand, do you mean they are going to demolish the Old American Express building on the south side of Edward St, if so what are they replacinbg it with?
Hi rolivan,

Yes, the old main building is to be demolished completely!

They are not replacing it with anything, and I understand just landscaping the area it was on.
My point was that with the building opposite which another poster says is up for lease and the Blocks in Preston Rd and New England Qtr there isn't a need for more Offices.

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Dredil06 says...
1:00pm Sat 15 Sep 12

We do not have a housing crisis. we simply have too many people living in this country. We need something like a nice, big, juicy disease (maybe bubonic plague) to thin out the wretched crowds a bit.

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Maxwell's Ghost says...
1:56pm Sat 15 Sep 12

And when it's icy or snows out that way you don't see a bus for up to seven days.
B&H is nothing like London. It was a small regency town which has been added to with various housing estates on the outskirts with a handful of over priced corner shops, the odd pizza outlet and closing down churches.
I do wish people would stop comparing London with B&H.
Londons boroughs were small villages in their own right which have joined up and each borough has its own democratic Government, schools, transport.
You only have to walk a mile and you are on a tube line. Up there is isolated and hilly and you will not get a single house sold by telling people to use bikes.
You need to go and rent a house out there H Jarrs and see what it's like in reality.
Cycling up there from the town centre is a pig of a journey and families won't do it.
Just accept that Bovis homes will build square boxes of starter homes which will be bought by young families, possibly from out of town. They will start at about £280,000 and each have a little driveway.

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Hovite says...
2:17pm Sat 15 Sep 12

All the cities in the world that embrace cycling have flat terrain and unless they introduce the bike equivalent of ski lifts or give everyone in the city an ebike, the cycling revolution will not happen here for many decades, if at all.

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HJarrs says...
3:14pm Sat 15 Sep 12

What most of you seem to miss is that the government is intent on ripping up planning rules and development of Toads Hole Valley will not be able to be resisted. It will be developed come what may, it is time you got real. By the way, I bet you can't get any party in B&H that will not back development!

I for one want to see a high density low environmental impact development of the type that can be frequently found on the continent and occasionally in the UK. Low energy housing and offices with high levels of greenery is what is needed. From some of the posts you would think bus routes were fixed and that we live in the Himalayers with the weather to boot. We live in one of the mildest parts of the country with a few rolling hills!

If I were a naysayer I would concentrate on getting the best quality development I could because otherwise you will be looking at a grim legoland house development of the type that have spread over our country like a cancer.

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One View says...
3:39pm Sat 15 Sep 12

How very strange this concept plan states it looks at reducing the carbon footprint when it intends to close King George VI Avenue and re-direct the traffic a longer route through the northern edge. Also all that traffic is directed right past the school. How pleasant!

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Hovite says...
3:55pm Sat 15 Sep 12

I agree that this site has to be developed, however for 750 homes to be built there. It doesn't seem that many compared to the 400 or so that has been suggested for the King Alfred site.

For the size of the area it is not really exploiting best use of the space. Take advantage of it being in the valley and build taller, don't restrict it to two or 3 level buildings.

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Maxwell's Ghost says...
3:58pm Sat 15 Sep 12

Yes it will be developed on. Agreed.
But it will be the usual big housing companies sticking up cheap boxes as the land cost and difficult site will put off any Eco build unless the homes are in the £400,000 bracket.
Also families paying that for a house will probably prefer Preston Park as they will be London commuters on big salaries not locals living in the valley. There are tradesmen who can command those salaries but if you go out to Hove you will see these guys have vans and driveways.
Also I was at a housing conference last year and asked the big companies why they were not including Eco kit ie grey water, solar in new homes and they said that they could not sell enough houses with the additional costs and in the long term the maintenance costs of the kit for the owners put people off.
There you go. People just want cheap homes, with somewhere to park if they work in the area and if they commute they want to be near Hove or Brighton station.
HJarrs you should rent out there and see how often buses come to a halt when the weather is bad. It's like Waltons bloody mountain. the council has to send 4x4s up there. It's isolated.

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Hovite says...
4:12pm Sat 15 Sep 12

http://www.ecopoint.
asia/2012/09/09/chin
as-eco-friendly-comm
unities/

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rolivan says...
6:23pm Sat 15 Sep 12

Why is it that in other countries Houses are built into the ground and not just upwards?There is a chance to build lots of Houses into the sides of the Valley and raise the Valley floor slightly with the Spoil.

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Joshiman says...
6:35pm Sat 15 Sep 12

It will be the gateway to Eco Hell .No buses or cars,no parking but you will have cycle lanes and car sharing schemes.

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kmhove says...
7:04pm Sat 15 Sep 12

There were consultations on this in several areas some while ago but it seems that no one has taken any notice at all of the comments made by so many of the local people who saw the plans and the architects etc have just ploughed on with their own "dreams". 750 houses (I thought it was 700 originally.. where have the extra 50 come from ??) would be total overcrowding put alongside a school, industrial and office accommodation plus the roads and green areas in such a small space. They would have to be shoehorned in matchbox/dolls houses and so no doubt ending up as some kind of future slum at the edge of the city. (Or are we going back to the bad old days of multi occupancy high rise buildings?) And the thought of closing KG VI ave is beyound belief... it's a main artery into Hove (and out of it)
I still can't imagine who would want to live there unless it turns out that the houses are so cheap that people couldn't refuse them... but in that case they would be far from eco friendly and green! And they'd soon fill up with the cars that the politicians claim not to want.
No, I'm afraid that the only people who will be filled with excitement for this project will be the politicians who imagine that it will gain them political brownie points and the developers who stand to make fortunes!

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getThisCoalitionOut says...
9:26pm Sat 15 Sep 12

mustaphaLeeko wrote:
rolivan wrote:
mustaphaLeeko wrote:
rolivan wrote:
There is a need for a School and Housing but absolutely NO NEED FOR A BUSINESS PARK.There are thousands of sq feet of Office space empty already and with American Express moving into a bigger premises there will be even more in Edward St.
You're wrong about American Express, it got planning permission with the proviso that the existing building would be demolished when the new one is completed!

The demolition is scheduled to be done by 2016.

http://www.epr.co.uk



/projects/architects



-current-projects/am



ex-house/
Sorry I don't understand, do you mean they are going to demolish the Old American Express building on the south side of Edward St, if so what are they replacinbg it with?
Hi rolivan,

Yes, the old main building is to be demolished completely!

They are not replacing it with anything, and I understand just landscaping the area it was on.
This would be an ideal spot for an enormous car park - so many people who live around there have people trying to park for work - why haven't the council had the initiative to do that?!

There are so few car parks in Brighton and a big, cheap one has been needed for decades.

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Conor2610 says...
10:13pm Sat 15 Sep 12

Any chance of getting a skatepark in there anywhere?

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Lady Smith says...
10:28pm Sat 15 Sep 12

leobrighton wrote:
The site is already a hideous blot on the landscape so no change there then. Development can improve it but no doubt the local self serving homeowners will be out in force to try to deny others the opportunity for housing and schools for their children.
My sentiments exactly! The city needs more housing and schools and this is an ideal place for it, as existing supporting infrastructure e.g. shops, doctors, etc, are already in the vicinity. For years, this space has just been used bikers, churning up the turf, so what's the flipping problem?!

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Athena says...
12:59am Sun 16 Sep 12

rolivan wrote:
mustaphaLeeko wrote:
rolivan wrote:
There is a need for a School and Housing but absolutely NO NEED FOR A BUSINESS PARK.There are thousands of sq feet of Office space empty already and with American Express moving into a bigger premises there will be even more in Edward St.
You're wrong about American Express, it got planning permission with the proviso that the existing building would be demolished when the new one is completed!

The demolition is scheduled to be done by 2016.

http://www.epr.co.uk


/projects/architects


-current-projects/am


ex-house/
Sorry I don't understand, do you mean they are going to demolish the Old American Express building on the south side of Edward St, if so what are they replacinbg it with?
Can't believe we're calling it the "Old American Express building". I worked in the Really Old Amex building opposite while they were building the new one in 1976. I still think of it as the New Building. It cost £15m to build at the time and it was innovative. What a waste of money if it is to be demolished instead of being used for something else.

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Nolram15 says...
8:57am Sun 16 Sep 12

Personally I am gutted that they will be building here. As a kid (admittedly 20 ish years ago) me and my friends used to play all over these fields. Mainly manhunt, but sledging in the winter. And the mudslide was another favourite but sadly you cannot get to it now.

In a fantasy world it would've great if money from the pot could be spent making it more accessible for kids to play there like we used to do. It was playing there and football over the school fields that kept us out of trouble.

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Sussex jim says...
10:09am Sun 16 Sep 12

Why not build an eco-village there, with no roads, just cycleways and walkways, for those who hate the car and motor transport to go and live in. This pedestrian paradise could be completely covered with a huge solar panel and be self-sufficient in energy.
Let nomal people continue to drive by up King George Avenue, as you can't cycle up it.

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Bob_The_Ferret says...
11:12am Sun 16 Sep 12

It's one thing to propose building a new housing estate, but what planet are the green loons on by proposing to turn King George the VI Avenue into a cycle path and diverting the main road into Hove around the proposed school? Note also that the entire 700 home residential area seems to be served by just one tiny road through the middle. How is that supposed to work for a development of this size, this far out of town?

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chrisso says...
11:22am Sun 16 Sep 12

Let's use all the brownfield and derelict sites around the city first. The New England quarter still hasn't been completed yet for instance, still some weed-strewn sites there. And absolutely right about no need for more office space, Brighton has empty office space all over the place, some large office buildings in Queens Road and bottom of Edward Street have remaines virtually unused since construction years ago.

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John Steed says...
11:32am Sun 16 Sep 12

mustaphaLeeko wrote:
rolivan wrote:
There is a need for a School and Housing but absolutely NO NEED FOR A BUSINESS PARK.There are thousands of sq feet of Office space empty already and with American Express moving into a bigger premises there will be even more in Edward St.
You're wrong about American Express, it got planning permission with the proviso that the existing building would be demolished when the new one is completed!

The demolition is scheduled to be done by 2016.

http://www.epr.co.uk

/projects/architects

-current-projects/am

ex-house/
ah ha this is the link that says the current Amex building sits in the middle of the site - a generic 1970s office building which significantly detracts from the setting of the Pavilion and Conservation Area
funny thing that it didnt detract in the seventies when amex was welcomed to brighton and the new monstrosity is not any better in fact its more in the face ugliness but hey ho depends on who is putting up the spin.
office buildings are not the same as industrial estates. brighton seems to have a number of office blocks that are empty on sites that would be better redeveloped. offices built 40/50 years ago are not usually suitable for modern styles of occupation.
Toad Hole site could provide suitable warehousing on an existing road network,
putting any more warehousing within the city agravates the already over used regency road network. a city needs a balance of housing offices industry and social support accomodation, the city needs more housing, anything else is a moot point. developers develope for only one reason PROFIT, thats the way it works. this is possibly the last remaining large developable area in the city it would be a shame to waste it.
maybe it would be best served as being entirely used for industry/warehousing and redevelope more inner city industrial areas into housing many veiws are held but one thing is forsure, this land remains the last seriously developable land in the city and developement will come

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The Real Phil says...
12:20pm Sun 16 Sep 12

deanaprior wrote:
Looking at the plan and imagining 750 new homes its going to look like the New England Quarter, concrete blocks with wooden relief that rapidly turns to grey. I understand Brighton needs new homes its just all the ******** we're told to describe concrete blocks.

Developers have revealed a vision.
A community hub.
Inspirational learning environment
New linear greenway
One planet living
eco-philosophy

Its an estate
Or a ghetto?

Report this post »

The Real Phil says...
12:24pm Sun 16 Sep 12

deanaprior wrote:
Looking at the plan and imagining 750 new homes its going to look like the New England Quarter, concrete blocks with wooden relief that rapidly turns to grey. I understand Brighton needs new homes its just all the ******** we're told to describe concrete blocks.

Developers have revealed a vision.
A community hub.
Inspirational learning environment
New linear greenway
One planet living
eco-philosophy

Its an estate
Or a ghetto?

Report this post »

Valerie Paynter says...
7:58pm Sun 16 Sep 12

The Real Phil wrote:
deanaprior wrote: Looking at the plan and imagining 750 new homes its going to look like the New England Quarter, concrete blocks with wooden relief that rapidly turns to grey. I understand Brighton needs new homes its just all the ******** we're told to describe concrete blocks. Developers have revealed a vision. A community hub. Inspirational learning environment New linear greenway One planet living eco-philosophy Its an estate
Or a ghetto?
Whitehawk Mark 2?

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Fight_Back says...
8:15pm Sun 16 Sep 12

*** sigh *** As per usual the city is full of NIMBYs. The land in question is scrap land and needs using properly. Houses, shops and business ( especially if it provides jobs ) would seem a good idea. As usual the Tories jump on the bandwagon. I'm a local who would welcome the development but as usual those with a lack of imagination and intelligence will probably hold it up for years. They're probably all feeling safe and comfortable in their half million pound houses not caring a jot about everyone else much like nimbys of Withdean, Westdene and Falmer.

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Valerie Paynter says...
8:30pm Sun 16 Sep 12

Fight_Back wrote:
*** sigh *** As per usual the city is full of NIMBYs. The land in question is scrap land and needs using properly. Houses, shops and business ( especially if it provides jobs ) would seem a good idea. As usual the Tories jump on the bandwagon. I'm a local who would welcome the development but as usual those with a lack of imagination and intelligence will probably hold it up for years. They're probably all feeling safe and comfortable in their half million pound houses not caring a jot about everyone else much like nimbys of Withdean, Westdene and Falmer.
I would hope that Toad's Hole Valley would be developed to fill the holes in the city's economic 'offer' so that businesses don't have to leave the city to find adequate space to grow into. We are losing Rayner's Optical to Worthing and Infinity left Norway Street to go where? Wasn't it Shoreham?

I would hope that Toad's Hole Valley is developed to provide lots and lots and lots of new job opportunities to the city, including semi-industrial and warehousing that should no longer be put in the areas either side of the Old Shoreham Road (because if you look at a map, the O/S Rd is now centrally located and no longer edge of town or suburban as has been accepted by this council until now.

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nosolution says...
9:32pm Sun 16 Sep 12

getThisCoalitionOut wrote:
mustaphaLeeko wrote:
rolivan wrote:
mustaphaLeeko wrote:
rolivan wrote: There is a need for a School and Housing but absolutely NO NEED FOR A BUSINESS PARK.There are thousands of sq feet of Office space empty already and with American Express moving into a bigger premises there will be even more in Edward St.
You're wrong about American Express, it got planning permission with the proviso that the existing building would be demolished when the new one is completed! The demolition is scheduled to be done by 2016. http://www.epr.co.uk /projects/architects -current-projects/am ex-house/
Sorry I don't understand, do you mean they are going to demolish the Old American Express building on the south side of Edward St, if so what are they replacinbg it with?
Hi rolivan, Yes, the old main building is to be demolished completely! They are not replacing it with anything, and I understand just landscaping the area it was on.
This would be an ideal spot for an enormous car park - so many people who live around there have people trying to park for work - why haven't the council had the initiative to do that?! There are so few car parks in Brighton and a big, cheap one has been needed for decades.
Couldn,t agree more.It,s central enough to be well used and near to out of town road links like the A259.Would be a simple matter to synchronise the traffic lights to ease traffic flow at rush hour,an idea not yet utilised..

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greenpaws says...
10:09pm Sun 16 Sep 12

This is the kind of quality that needs to be adopted throught development in B&H.

With 280 affordable homes, this will come as some relief to local communities in need.

This is the kind of sensible pragmatic future thinking we're getting from the Greens and I truly applaud it.

No council ghettoes from Labour or private enclaves from the Tories. We need sustainable communities.

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Dickie123 says...
10:18pm Sun 16 Sep 12

I would prefer this not to happen, but it is inevitable and has been since the A27 was built.

My biggest concern is this becomes yet another politicised issue for the city with unrealistic ideals on both.

I think the basic plan and re-routing of king George vi ave makes sense.

However, these houses are planned to be 3 bed family homes and the vast majority will have at least one car. Realistic provision for cars and investment in public transport must be made for this development to succeed.

The council will be given the land for the school, but not necessairly the money to build it, so this could be another faith school with little benefit to the local community.

The business park must cater for businesses that require mixed use space and good access to road links.

This is an opportunity for the local commuinty for decades to come, not a time for trying to win votes or idealistic experiments.

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Maxwell's Ghost says...
7:00am Mon 17 Sep 12

Affordable homes is always a subjective matter.
The average starter home is £255,000. Three bedroom homes about £290,000.
Although perhaps the affordable homes will be the part buy part rent deals you get in London where you pay an astronomical figure in rent and are tied into some complex rental deal.
Yes tell us what affordable really means and how will the council ensure local people get to buy them before all the Londoners move down.

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Mark63 says...
12:49pm Mon 17 Sep 12

I don't get the hysteria about the last green space in the city - just 30 feet further north is the largest green space in the south of the country - this 'city' is desperate for new homes. This is the first green announcement that I've been pleased to read about.... finally some solid progress worth shouting about. The area looks a mess at the moment - this new area/suburb/estate would be a welcome addition to the overpopulated area - and we all still have the southdowns to enjoy, plus numerous protected parks and an enormous seafront... Get over it nimbys!

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Ktm_250 says...
8:24pm Mon 17 Sep 12

For starters I'm a local lad in hangelton and this would be the worst thing ever! One we already have hove park, Pcc and batch mill as secondary schools. 2 theres no new shops going up so the shops would be so over crowded in hangelton as for roads there wouldn't be a place to park 750 homes say on avarage every flat has 2/3 people in let's just say 2 that's 1500 more people in hangelton every day plus then say 1000 drive and 500 or 900 workers drive that's 1500 more cars being parked in hangelton.. I also like to walk my dog and ride my bike on this field

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