Brighton and Hove Councillors set to make final decision on City Plan

By Sam Pither

18 October 2022

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Brighton and Hove Council are set to make a final decision on a housing, workspace and leisure plan which has been ten years in the making.

If accepted, it would enable the building of up to 900 homes on 16 greenfield cites on area’s urban fringe.

A government-appointed inspector has looked over the document to certify it is acceptable.

The plan has met with opposition, some Patcham residents have successfully campaigned against allocating 10 homes on Horsdean Recreation Ground, citing loss of habitat.

Before the meeting on Thursday, campaigners are planning to present a 3,000-strong petition opposing plans for Benfield Valley. A campaign for Whitehawk Hill failed to gain enough traction.

Green councillor Leo Littman, who chairs the council’s planning committee, said: “I’m not saying that the plan is perfect. Sadly, in at least one respect, I consider it to be far from perfect.

“I would love for us to be able to protect every single blade of grass on the city’s urban fringes from development – but we can’t.

“We need to face reality as it is a choice between protecting some of our green urban fringe sites or none of them.”

The document due to go before the council on Thursday is Part Two of the plan, which covers more substantial detail than Part One, which was adopted six years ago.

Seven sites have been earmarked for development in Part Two, including Brighton General Hospital in Elm Grove, and land in New England Road, Brighton, and Lyon Close, Hove, along with Sackville Trading Estate, which already has planning permission for 800 homes.

It also covers 39 brownfield sites, which would support the creation of at least 1,570 new homes and business opportunities.

Featured image: Pexels/Sophie Louisnard: https://www.pexels.com/photo/st-jamess-street-kemptown-brighton-6041830/

By Sam Pither

Sam is the Regional Editor of Biz News, responsible for both Hampshire and Dorset.

A new recruit to journalism, Sam started writing for the Business Magazine as a freelancer in May of 2022 after completing his degree in English at University College London. His passion for local businesses and ability to tell a story soon caught the attention of the publication’s management team and have led to his meteoric rise.

Sam, who lives in central Reading, takes a particular interest in technology, gaming and food and drink, having been a chef before starting his degree.