A COUNCIL says that the 880 homes approved for a new development are “desperately needed” and  “a significant step towards a more sustainable city.”

Outline plans for hundreds of new homes in Toads Hole Valley in Hove were approved by councillors at the end of May.

They agreed to the broad principles of a scheme to build 880 homes in the development, off King George VI Avenue, known locally as Snakey Hill.

The consortium behind the scheme – Toad’s Hole Valley Limited, Pecla Investments Limited and Robert Simon – submitted a planning application for the 91-acre site in late 2018.

Earlier this year, the developer lodged an appeal because Brighton and Hove City Council had not made a decision. At the same time, it submitted a duplicate planning application to the council.

On Wednesday, May 25, the plans for the privately owned land – the largest greenfield site in Brighton and Hove – came back before planners at Hove Town Hall.

The Argus:

A special Planning Committee decided to approve the duplicate planning application for Toads Hole Valley.

As a result, the developer has withdrawn its appeal to the Planning Inspectorate. This means that the public inquiry, due to have started on June 9, has now been cancelled.

The committee voted seven to two for the plans which include a school, sports and community space, offices, shops and other business premises, a doctors’ surgery and a wildlife site.

Councillor Leo Littman, chair of the Planning Committee, said: “The Toads Hole Valley development will provide the city with 880 desperately needed new homes, of which 40 per cent will meet the government’s definition of ‘affordability’.

“A number of environmental improvements have been secured, from renovation of the Site of Nature Conservation to energy efficient homes and better active travel infrastructure.

The Argus:

“Of course, we would have wanted more. For example, we would have liked to have seen a scheme which worked even harder to reduce reliance on private motorised transport.

“However, within the bounds set by the National Planning Policy Framework, this development provides as much benefit as we could have hoped for.

“It helps us get closer to the housing supply figures set by the government and takes a small but significant step towards a more sustainable city.”