CAMPAIGNERS have slammed plans to build 135 homes at a college premises, saying there are no schemes in place to make them affordable.

Greater Brighton Metropolitan College has outlined a £16 million plan to build a creative and digital industries centre and homes.

The education centre would be built on its car park in Pelham Street, Brighton, as an extension to its tower block, which will be refurbished.

The Met would knock down the old Victorian school buildings on the opposite side of Pelham Street and build 135 homes.

The college’s plans were approved by the city council’s planning committee on Wednesday.

Johnbosco Nwogbo, from Brighton, had started a petition online which called for the council to defer the decision until the college amended its plans so at least 40 per cent of the homes are affordable.

He said: “The provision of high quality vocational education facilities is incredibly important, and we commend The Met for making plans to expand this service in our ward.

“However, the important provision of educational facilities in our ward should not compete with the provision of good quality housing for low income members of our community.

“Members of our community shouldn’t have to be rich to be able to live in good quality accommodation within our ward.

“We don’t just have a housing crisis, we have an even deeper crisis in terms of genuinely affordable housing.

“Brighton has the second highest rents in the country and one of the fastest rising as well.

“We will fight on.

“In the plans, the college states they have the intention to investigate the possibility of providing ‘affordable’ housing.

“We will keep a keen eye on them as this development unfolds.”

Another resident Trevor Muten, from Hove, said: “Greater provision for ‘affordable’ accommodation is urgently needed in Brighton and Hove.

Read more: The Met's £16m plan for new homes and classrooms approved

“This development has the potential opportunity to contribute to meeting this need whilst also assisting educational provision in our city.”

Carol Dean, of Brighton, said: “I find rents in Brighton and Hove abhorrent.

“How are the homeless ever able to survive in the world of fat cat profiteering landlords.”

Brighton and Hove City Council was contacted for a comment.