A council has approved a proposal for new beach chalets.

The 14 new huts at Saltdean were approved by Brighton and Hove City Council’s tourism, equalities, communities and culture committee at a meeting.

Beach chalets, which are in high demand, can only be let by residents of Brighton & Hove.

The waiting lists for the existing 105 chalets across Hove, Rottingdean, Madeira Drive, Ovingdean and Saltdean are closed at present, due to overwhelming demand.

"I am really pleased we can make this enjoyment go even further by providing more of our popular beach chalets,” said Councillor Martin Osborne, who co-chairs the committee.

The chalets are made of composite material, completely weatherproof and fireproof and are pre-made off site, delivered and installed directly on the ground. 

Double-style chalets have been proposed and they will have French doors and open outward.

Each chalet will be connected to electricity and have access to a drinking water standpipe. 

Cllr Osborne said: “The improved design of the new chalets makes them long-lasting and sustainable, which helps us towards our goal of tackling climate change too.”

Since 2011, 51 of the 105 chalets have been re-let to new tenants.

Over the next eight years, 122 chalets will be returned. 

In 2011, a maximum five-year fixed-term lease was introduced and only Brighton and Hove residents were allowed to lease chalets.

This year, existing tenants with no fixed term were moved to a new maximum eight-year fixed-term lease.

“With the changes to our letting policy introduced in 2011 and last year, the new chalets will enable more people to benefit from a lease of a chalet,” said Cllr Osborne.

Now the proposal has been approved by the committee, a planning application could be made before the end of the year.

If the planning application is successful, the chalets could be available to rent from summer 2023.