New England House development

New England House, a ‘flagship’ business centre on New England Street, is set to be refurbished and expanded as part of the Greater Brighton City Deal under which £4.9 million was awarded in 2014 from central government. The council’s business centre that provides space for creative, digital and IT businesses in the city has been popular with local businesses and start-ups as a place to try out new ideas.

The planned developments will see the expansion of New England House, championing the work of Brighton & Hove City Council and promoting community wealth building with affordable workspaces for businesses to grow. 

Design

While early in the design planning, there are plans to provide external cladding to the existing building and essential upgrades, improving the building’s thermal performance and reducing carbon emissions. As well as design and environmental benefits, public access will be improved by replacing the staircase that’s located between York Hill and New England Street with a ramp.

There are also plans to provide additional storeys and two extra ‘towers’ on the building’s York Hill elevation adding additional floorspace for businesses to take advantage of whilst retaining the character of the building.

Next steps

The next stages of the project will include further stakeholder engagement and more detailed design work giving the project momentum. The detailed design and business case will be brought back for consideration and approval by the Policy & Resources Committee in mid-2020, prior to further design work and submission of a planning application.

Council leader Nancy Platts said, “The developments at New England House are another great example of Brighton & Hove City Council’s drive towards doing more for the city’s local businesses. I hope that more businesses can take advantage of the extra space and further stimulate our local economy.”