independent co-working and business community PLATF9RM is expanding this Friday.

It is turning a vacant area of Hove Town Hall into its first publicly accessible venue.

The new ground floor development will connect to its existing space on the second floor which has been home to more than 200 members and 50 businesses since 2017.

It has space for another 200 people.

Seb Royle, chief executive and founder of PLATF9RM, said: “Brighton and Hove has the most incredible blend of talented people and businesses, but they have long lacked a home that matches their ambitions.

“PLATF9RM exists to support new and exciting ways of working and enable freelancers and businesses to spark new connections.

“This venture is a physical representation of that vision.

“It will be the first PLATF9RM venue with a high street presence and public access.

“We’re bringing this right into the community to support our city’s unique working culture, while rejuvenating the high street at the same time.”

The development follows a £11 million renovation of the building in 2016.

The Church Road undercroft that PLATF9RM is converting was last open to the public as a walkway more than 25 years ago.

In the intervening years, it was divided into separate spaces that were used for council offices, parking permit collection, a toy library and even a wedding room.

A cafe and bar will also be open to the public from the spring.

The mezzanine floors will feature four meeting rooms available to members and non-members, including a 12-person boardroom with elevated views across the atrium.

Downstairs will house showers for cycling commuters, artwork, bar seating and a 100-person plus event space with a full community programme of social and cultural events.

The outside will also be opened out into a cafe working space.

City council leader Daniel Yates said: “Brighton and Hove is at the forefront of new ways of working, and it’s great to see an unused part of Hove Town Hall being brought back to life, offering co-working space for people wanting to work, network, host meetings and do business.

“Collaborative workspaces that foster connections between small businesses and freelancers are an essential part of the ecosystem for this thriving part of our economy.

“We’re very happy to be supporting PLATF9RM.”

PLATF9RM’s two existing venues at North Road’s Tower Point and the second floor of Hove Town Hall on Church Road are already home to 650 members across 200 businesses ranging from start-ups to larger employers.

The new venue, especially aimed at freelancers, will have room for 200 more members.

Anthony Prior, director of Bagelman, said: “As a local high street business owner it’s encouraging to see this aspirational development bringing together the trends for freelance working and cafe culture.

“We need people with new ideas to evolve the high street and this hybrid between work, leisure and community could be part of the puzzle.”

PLATF9RM members use a blend of private offices and collaborative working environments among beautifully fitted surroundings.

They can choose various packages ranging from unlimited access or a set number of hours per week starting from £99 a month.

Packages above the entry level of 40 hours per month membership allow members to move between venues as much as they like, with the latest venture at Hove Town Hall being no exception.

More than 50 new members have already signed up to join once the building opens.

To book a tour of the space contact jess@platf9rm.com or visit www.platf9rm.com/groundfloor

This is a huge moment in the evolution of PLATF9RM and we cannot WAIT to welcome you there.

A spokesman said: “The space will have all the bespoke touches you’d expect from PLATF9RM , within a completely new environment.

“Adjacent to this– a member only co-working lounge and informal meeting area with space for many more co-workers in Brighton.”