Family of Momentum founder behind Lewes Road development

Relatives of Jon Lansman, the Labour activist who founded Momentum, are developing 60 flats on Lewes Road.

His brother Stephen Lansman and son Ben Lansman are behind the plan, which has been approved despite objections from locals.

Six neighbours wrote to the council to object to the scheme with concerns about more students moving into Lewes Road.

One called it an “inappropriate use of the site when we already have many blocks of ‘student flats’ which have no other use in planning terms at a time when there is no certainty that rich enough students will be arriving in the city”.

The anonymous objector added: “In addition, we need proper housing which this site could provide.”

Another said: “Having lived just off Lewes Road on and off over the past 10 years, it has deteriorated and pre-Covid was often packed with traffic at certain times of day.”

The anonymous neighbour also complained about “noisy students disturbing residents at all times of night (and) a visible increase of drug dealers, especially opposite the Co-op”.

The objector added: “The developer should contribute towards the redevelopment of the area to ease traffic flow and policing of the area.

“It is a great concern that yet more student accommodation is being built in such close proximity to student HMO (houses in multiple occupation) properties that litter the area, disrupting communities of families and workers.”

An artist impression of the development on Lewes Road

Another objector raised concerns about the public consultation after the applicants said that they had posted 211 flyers to homes and businesses near the site.

The flyers invited people to visit a website and take part in a virtual drop-in session but no one attended the event.

The objector, whose details were redacted on the council’s website, said: “We received the information card through our door I believe the day before the online consultation, not providing enough notice for review of the proposal prior or to attend as was still working full time.

“We have not heard anything about this since from the developers, despite potentially easier contact since restrictions have reduced.”

The objector also raised concerns about the height of the proposed building and the increasing number of students moving into the area.

A seventh neighbour had concerns about students living on the site but supported the redevelopment of the building.

READ MORE: Plans to demolish supermarket to make way for student flats

The scheme involves demolishing the Co-op on the corner of Caledonian Road and replacing it with a four-storey building.

The Lewes Road frontage would house a shop or café while the students would live at the rear of the ground floor and on the three storeys above.

The building – to be known as Ravilious House – would include communal rooms in the basement and would be expected to become home to students from the Brighton Screen and Film School.

The applicants are the Co-op, the student housing specialist Alumno and FPC (Lewes Road) which is part of the Foundation Property and Capital business run by Stephen and Ben Lansman.

The applicants had wanted to put up a five-storey building containing 70 student bedrooms but modified their plans after talks with Brighton and Hove City Council.

Plans have now approved by councillors, with a curfew on using a proposed roof terrace.

The Co-Op on Lewes Road

The current Co-op store would move into vacant premises next door, councillors were told.

Conservative councillor Joe Miller raised concerns about parties on the roof and said that time limits had been imposed on the roof of nearby student flats at the Vogue Gyratory.

He suggested a 9pm to 7am curfew but Brighton and Hove City Council’s Planning Committee settled on 11pm – in line with nearby pubs.

Councillor Miller said: “We need to stop the proliferation of HMOs which in turn has an impact on council tax.

“I support the scheme. I like the design. I would encourage (the owners of) other similar types of single-storey to two-storey buildings to look if they can do similar to help us meet our housing demands.”

READ MORE: These new student flats could include a poignant Second World War Blitz tribute

Labour councillor Nick Childs also supported the scheme and asked whether the new building could include a plaque.

Councillor Childs wanted it to commemorate the 15 people who lost their lives during the Second World War when the site was bombed in 1943.

The Planning Committee supported his suggestion but it will be down to the developers

Planning permission is conditional on the building including a minimum of 60 swift bricks – to help the migratory birds with nesting – and three bee bricks.

The developers are expected to pay the council a “community infrastructure levy” of almost £210,000.