104 more new homes on the way for innovative low cost housing partnership
The second new development by an innovative partnership building 100% low cost homes in the city has been given the go ahead.
Approval to build 104 low cost homes on the site of the former Belgrave Day Centre in Portslade was agreed at the planning committee on Wednesday 4 September.
Final surveying will begin on site shortly, with building work due to begin next spring.
The homes are being developed by Homes for Brighton & Hove - a partnership between the council and the Hyde Group aiming to build 1,000 new low cost homes for rent and sale for lower income working households in the city.
Building new low cost homes
The new homes will be built on council-owned land in Clarendon Place, Portslade, facing on to Wellington Road. The site is identified as suitable for housing in the City Plan.
The homes will be in two blocks, between four and seven storeys. There will be 11 studio flats, 50 one-bedroom flats, 39 two-bedroom and four three-bedroom.
This matches the size of housing needed in the city. Currently, 84% of households on the council’s housing waiting list are looking for one or two bedroom properties.
Half of the new homes will be available for rent to people on the council’s joint housing register, with the other half to buy available as shared ownership homes. Rents will be set to be affordable to households earning the National Living Wage.
Listening to residents
Homes for Brighton & Hove held two rounds of consultation with local residents in July and October last year before finalising the plans.
Following feedback from the local community and other stakeholders, the number of homes was reduced from 122 to 104, with the taller block reduced from eight storeys to seven.
The blocks will also be set further back from Wellington Road. Electric car charging points have been added to all car park spaces, and an extra visitor parking space and delivery bay has been added.
The development will also have two extra car club spaces and a Brighton Bike share hub on site.
The location benefits from good transport links to surrounding areas, and is close to shops and local amenities on Boundary Road.
Landscaping the area
The buildings are set back from Wellington Road, and will include a ‘green corridor’ of elm trees, hedges and seasonal plants. Trees along the front will wrap around the site and continue into the courtyard.
The blocks will have more than 269 solar panels on the roofs and a landscaped courtyard in the middle.
A steel arch, a nod to the area’s former industrial heritage, will provide a stunning entrance to the main public space and native plants will provide biodiversity on the site.
The stepped buildings – designed by Conran and Partners – will be built with robust, textured brick and stone.
Working together to deliver new homes
Councillor John Allcock, chair of the council’s Housing Committee and chair of Homes for Brighton & Hove, said: “Homes for Brighton & Hove is a key part of our plans to increase the supply of genuinely affordable homes the city urgently needs and it’s great to see this second development move a step closer.
“Delivering more affordable homes in the city is an agenda we share with our Green Party colleagues and we’re working closely together to make sure that happens.
“With the Coldean site, this brings the total of new low cost homes on the way from the partnership to just below 350. Those homes will make a big difference to people struggling to afford housing in our city.
“We’ve listened to residents and the feedback we received has helped us improve the scheme and we’re sure the development will be a positive addition to the neighbourhood, as well as providing much-needed housing.”
Councillor David Gibson, the opposition lead for housing, added: “It’s great that last week the planning committee approved another batch of much-needed affordable new homes in partnership with Hyde.
“The partnership with Hyde was set up to enable the council to provide the city with more affordable homes on top of the existing council house building programme.
“Greens have pledged to put the city first, and we will work with Labour on solving the housing and homelessness crisis.
“Together we have set a target of building 1500 extra affordable homes over the next four years and these additional 104 low cost homes in Portslade will make a concrete difference.”
Guy Slocombe, Group Business Development Director for Hyde said: “Homes for Brighton & Hove is an innovative partnership set up with the sole purpose of building genuinely affordable homes for local people in Brighton & Hove.
“We know the need for affordable housing is high and so we are delighted to have reached this exciting milestone of securing planning approval for our second scheme.
“There is no single answer to tackling the housing shortage in Brighton & Hove. However, this project will provide a boost to affordable housing delivery in the city, while also contributing to the regeneration of the harbour area.”