Demolished Brighton Victorian street brought back in £140m development

The £140 million Edward Street Quarter development at the site of the former Amex House in Brighton reopened Mighell Street, with developer Socius marking the entrance with a public art gateway to welcome visitors, residents and workers.

The majority of the street was demolished decades ago, leaving just a small section of the original road and two listed buildings.

View down Mighell Street from Carlton Hill in June 1961 (Image: Regency Society)

Steve Eccles, director at Socius, said: “Reinstating the historic Mighell Street is just one of the major milestones in our development and we are excited that office staff and residents will be able to walk down this road once again.

“It was important for us to forge links with Kemp Town’s heritage and we wanted to bring back this lost street to revive a piece of Victorian Brighton.

“Mighell Street will be lined with food, beverage and leisure businesses, as well as offices and homes, where our first residents have already moved in, putting this thoroughfare truly on the map once more.”

View down Mighell Street from Carlton Hill in June 1961 (Image: Regency Society)

Mighell Street was named after Philip Mighell, a local landowner at the end of the 18th century.

The street’s former residents during the 1840s included a number of artisan tradespeople, dressmakers, a shoemaker and a beer retailer, many of whom would have provided services to Brighton’s wealthier residents living nearer to the Royal Pavilion.

By the 1930s, only a handful of businesses were left on the western side of the street, with a ladies’ hairdresser, an undertaker and a chimney sweep offering their services.

In the final days before its demolition to make way for the Amex House development, a builders - George Lynn and Sons, still remained in the street, along with a pub called the Black Lion and Nielsens Ice Cream and Frozen Foods. 

Only a few places remained on the street in 1972, including the Black Lion pub (Image: Regency Society)

Only an early 19th-century farmhouse remains from the Victorian era, now divided into two homes.

The public art gateway at the new entrance of the street, designed by sculptor Casto Solano, is one of three areas designated for public art in Edward Street Quarter.

The reinstated street will join Edward Street and Carlton Hill, allowing for pedestrian access once again.

The reinstated street will allow for pedestrian access, joining Edward Street and Carlton Hill (Image: Edward Street Quarter)

The development, which welcomed its first residents last month, is made up of 168 new homes, with a mix of private and affordable units to meet local demand.

Homes at the site are open for viewings, with a mixture of one, two and three-bedroom apartments, many of which boast outside space and access to a panoramic roof terrace overlooking Brighton seafront.