Significant developments

This lists the significant city development proposals supported by the society.

For fuller details enter the planning reference into:
www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/planning.

BH2011/02886
Royal Sussex County Hospital, Eastern Road, Brighton
Under consideration

The proposal is to demolish all the hospital buildings north of Eastern Road and south of the existing Children’s Hospital and the Thomas Kemp Tower. A helicopter landing pad and associated works would be constructed on the top of the Thomas Kemp Tower and there would be infrastructure developments including a new electricity sub-station, energy centre and flues. Car and cycle parking facilities would be increased, some road adjustments and minor relocation of bus stops. There would be extensive landscaping throughout the site.

The new hospital buildings would be constructed in three phases:

Stage 1: erection of a part 10, 11 and 12 storey building, including the reinstatement of the interior of the existing Chapel

Stage 2: erection of a 5 storey building

Stage 3: building of a service yard with single storey building

Heritage Statement

The developers intend to mitigate the loss of heritage assets by relocating the interior of the Chapel, by sensitive re-use of the material of the Bristol Gate Piers, and by carefully reconstructing part of the boundary walls within the Stage 2 development. These works will be carried out in accordance with English Heritage guidance.

Medical Facilities

Notable additions to the existing treatment facilities would include a trauma unit, with patients brought into hospital by helicopter if necessary, and a modern cancer treatment unit located in the Stage 1 buildings. The documentation submitted with the proposal provides a rationale for replacing the older buildings to enable the installation of technical equipment and up-to-date facilities for patient care and treatment.

Energy Conservation and Generation

There is a comprehensive energy statement included in the documentation, in which the reasons for the developers’ choices of conservation and generation methods are clearly explained. Proposals take into consideration Brighton and Hove plans for the city, the feasibility of exporting energy to the local area, and considerations of noise minimisation.

The site is too restricted to include some important forms of energy generation, apart from a combined gas-fuelled heat and power generation plant (3.0MW electrical and 3.8MW thermal) and PV solar panels on roofs. Significantly, space will be set aside for future installations such as biofuel and biomass generators as these become financially and technically viable. Energy conservation is planned through design features such as ventilation, low-energy lighting, smart controls and insulating materials, anticipating ‘carbon savings’ of 29%.

The conservation and generation strategies are expected to gain an overall grading of ‘excellent’ from the national association BREEAM.

Transport to and from the hospital

Planned provision of car and cycle parking spaces, increased as a result of public consultation, is still a major concern. Access to underground car parking via Bristol Gate will be easier but there are apparently no plans to improve access for buses.

BH2010/03379
‘Royal Alexandra Quarter’, Dyke Road, Brighton
Approved with conditions, July 2011

The development will retain the facade of the main hospital building and convert the space into 20 residential units, and all the other hospital buildings will be demolished, making way for amenity spaces, parking, access and 101 residential units, of which 15% will be for ‘affordable’ rental. The conditions for approval include Ecohomes certification and adherence to regulations about sustainability during demolition and construction.

BH2011/00228
The British Engineerium, The Droveway, Hove
Under consideration

The Engineerium is a listed building within its own conservation area. It is a significant part of our industrial heritage. The plans include the building of a two storey extension to the existing workshops and a new single storey exhibition hall.

There will be alterations to provide disabled access, including ramps and a lift.  There are proposals for solar panels on the roof of the new workshop. Considerable consideration is being given to conserving details of the original buildings.

BH2010/03739
‘PortZed’, Aldrington Basin, Portslade
Under consideration

The proposal, on the South side of Kingsway, is for 67 new residential units of which 40% will be ‘affordable’, together with a medical centre, an environmental information centre and some commercial units.

The development is designed to be fully sustainable in terms of energy generation and usage – a ‘zero-carbon’ complex of six blocks rising to five and a half storeys at Kingsway level, with an additional one and a half storeys of car parking and delivery areas below Kingsway level and accessed from Basin Road North.

The six blocks would be linked by columns of wind turbines which are a strong feature of this innovative design. The new building will be at the eastern end of the Shoreham Port development and is not likely to be out of keeping with other developments along Kingsway, some approved and some at the planning stage.