SEVERAL campaign groups have united against plans to build high-rise blocks of flats on the site of a former gasworks, expressing "grave concerns" about the project.
Thirteen heritage societies and campaign groups in Brighton have issued a joint statement about the Brighton Gasworks development, where a developer wants to build between 600 and 700 homes, a public square and 2,000sqm of office space.
St William, part of the Berkeley Group, has launched its second public consultation on plans to build nine tower blocks across two hectares of land on the brownfield site between Marina Way, Roedean Road and Boundary Road.
READ MORE: Campaigners' fears over Brighton gasworks development
The consultation is open until March 5.
But campaign groups fear contamination toxins from the development could present "an environmental and human health risk for years" across a large residential area, which includes ten schools and colleges and the Royal Sussex County Hospital.
The contamination fears come after serious health complaints from residents living near another controversial gasworks development by the Berkeley Group.
In Southall, west London, neighbours reported a "petrol-like" odour and symptoms such as breathing problems and nausea following the company's redevelopment at the Southall Waterside site in early 2017.
In a joint statement, groups including the Brighton Society, the Kemp Town Society and the Brighton and Hove Heritage Commission said: "These impacts are real and happening now at National Grid sites developed by Berkeley Group.
"People living near the site in Southall speak of breathing difficulties, the onset and worsening of asthma, eye irritation, irregular heartbeats, migraines, skin rashes, chest infections, nausea, dizziness, memory problems, a sensation of 'internal burning' and other symptoms.
"Today more than ever it is imperative to protect the environment and health."
READ MORE: Brighton residents' health fears over plans for new flats
Jeremy Mustoe, chairman of the Brighton Society, described decontamination proposals set out by St William for the Brighton Gasworks development as "unconvincing".
He added: “The proposals desecrate the city’s landscape and urban heritage and fail to integrate socially or visually with the local community."
#RethinkTheGasworks it is worrying that @CASHcampaigners complain of toxic odours at another @BerkeleyGroupUK gasworks site @brightonargus @bhcitynews @latestbrighton pic.twitter.com/r0Ek3kgrFL
— Brighton Society (@brightonsociety) February 18, 2021
A spokesman for the Action on Gasworks Housing Affordability Safety and Transparency (Aghast) campaign group said: “We support the development of the gasworks site provided it carries no risk of human or environmental harm.
“We have grave concerns about the St William development on both accounts.”
The groups also say the plans are a "huge over-development" as building high-rise blocks in the area would "mock" Grade I listed buildings in the Kemp Town Estate and other nearby conservation areas.
They say the development "ignores the desperate need for affordable housing" and finish their open letter by saying: "Back to the drawing board please.
"Brighton deserves better."
After responses from its first consultation, launched in June last year, St William made some changes to its designs for the site, including reducing the height of the tallest building from 15 storeys to 13, and reducing the height of a five-storey block in Boundary Road to four, in keeping with the scale of buildings in Arundel Street.
The developer said the exact number of affordable homes and parking spaces will be confirmed through discussion with the council following submission of its application.
Designs show plans for a landscaped public square with seating areas and a "Green Link" path for cyclists and pedestrians from De Courcel Road and Marine Drive to the junction of Roedean Road and Marina Way.
A spokesman for St William said: “We continue to consult on our plan to redevelop the site into an exciting new part of the city which will provide new homes, jobs and publicly accessible open space for use by local people.
"All works are highly regulated and will be closely monitored and approved by the authorities, including Brighton and Hove City Council and the Environment Agency.”
To view or comment on the public consultation, visit brightongasworks.co.uk by March 5.
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