A £67 million scheme to build more than 200 flats in blocks up to 18 storeys high has been approved.

The company behind the scheme close to Hove Station, Watkin Jones, hopes the warehouses currently on the site could be demolished later this year.

And it hopes the “build to rent” scheme, in Ellen Street, backing on to Conway Street, could be ready for its first tenants in April 2023.

Watkin Jones’s application for 216 flats was approved by Brighton and Hove City Council’s planning committee by six votes to four.

The scheme – known as Hove Gardens – also includes a community area and space for shops, offices or cafés.

Neighbours and Goldsmid ward councillors praised Watkin Jones for the way it had engaged with the people locally.

Green councillor Sue Shanks and the former council leader Labour councillor Daniel Yates said good community engagement resulted in improved schemes.

Members said the Watkin Jones proposal was better than a previous project, granted permission by a government planning inspector in January last year, even though the new scheme was taller.

Hove Station Neighbourhood Forum representative Mike Gibson said the design and streetscape had been improved thanks to public consultation.

Mr Gibson said: “A big plus is that this is the first virtually car-free development in the Hove Station Quarter.

“It is a first and will hopefully fit into the master plan for the area and ensure the whole area is car-free in accordance with the neighbourhood plan.”

Watkin Jones’s planning consultant Nick Green said no parking would be available on site and tenants would not be able to apply for parking permits in the area.

Mr Green said an independent report found it was not viable to include “affordable” housing on the site but the company appreciated the community’s views on the subject.

It had therefore agreed to provide ten per cent of the flats for “affordable” rent, at an average 25 per cent discount to market rents.

The plans include 31 studios, 101 one-bed flats, 73 two-bedroom flats and 11 with three bedrooms, making 216 in total, providing homes for about 600 people.

At least ten flats are expected to be wheelchair accessible.

One councillor asked for details of rent levels for the scheme compared with homes in the area and was told the new flats would cost hundreds of pounds a month more.

But Watkin Jones said rents included Sky TV, high-speed internet and access to an on-site gym.

Labour councillor Nick Childs voted against the scheme, objecting to the loss of parking spaces in the area and lack of affordable housing.

He said: “Once again we have a wealthy developer developing in our city and providing insufficient affordable housing.

“A 75 per cent reduction is not affordable for the 9,500 people on our housing list.”
Independent councillor Bridget Fishleigh had looked at the viability report which suggested the scheme would make an £8 million profit.

She said: “If this scheme cannot deliver more than ten per cent affordable homes then we should reject it and ask them to come back with a different scheme.”

The Argus:

Green councillor Siriol Hugh-Jones said a one-bedroom flat would cost £200 a month more to rent than the “local housing allowance”.

But she voted for the scheme because it would be car-free and next to Hove Station.
Independent councillor Tony Janio voted against saying it was “nonsense” to suggest a scheme of more than 200 homes would be car-free.

Labour councillor Chris Henry, who represents neighbouring Westbourne ward, was also happy to see the “industrial” site turned into housing.

He said: “For those of us who live and work in this area, it’s a real dump. 

“It’s a very unpleasant area and this regeneration is really welcome.”