Planning Comment May 08

I have previously highlighted the “fashion” of trying to build small units of housing wherever there might be argued to be space. This continues, but sometimes not necessarily for the worse, and the Group were pleased to see an application to build a small 3 bed detached cottage on currently vacant land adjoining 1 Goldstone Cottages, a rather charming terrace of cottages down a private road off Woodland Drive in the Engineerium Conservation Area. The design of the proposed new house is sympathetic, will not detract from the charm, and we hope the application will be granted. Against this, plans to demolish 2 garages at the rear of 50 Goldstone Villas and build a small 1 storey dwelling were refused as over-development, quite apart from the fact that the plans were inadequate. We need to be vigilant otherwise potentially disastrous precedents will be set.

In my last report I mentioned the application for the demolition of Lawnscroft, 155 Kingsway, to build a 4/5 storey 29 bed nursing home (not yet decided) and more recently came an application to demolish 149/151 Kingsway to build a block of 8 flats. We thought the design of the proposed building stylish and did not object, although we were concerned (as with the Lawnscroft application) at the potential overbearing impact on the surrounding houses. This application was refused as overdevelopment and out of keeping with the surrounding area. So there may be hope for the remaining houses fronting Kingsway at this point.

Most if not all members will be aware of the threat to back gardens posed by the nation-wide demand to build more homes, and there is ample evidence of this in the Dyke Road Avenue and Tongdean areas. The Society therefore welcomed the Council’s proposal to extend the Tongdean Conservation Area to include many of the Dyke Road Avenue houses. Two recent applications in this area were at 4 Tongdean Road (for new detached house adjoining existing and new access road) which we considered over-development and  42 Tongdean Avenue (demolition of existing bungalow, erection of 2 detached houses - we objected to the design as being out of character with the Conservation Area. Both applications have been refused.

Similarly most if not all members will be aware of the threatened loss of the Connaught Centre, currently used as an adult education satellite site. Brighton City College may well sell this building (after all it’s “only in Hove”) and it’s not difficult to speculate on what might replace it.

An application for change of use of the former Dresden House (34/38 Medina Villas and 14/20 Albany Villas) to 33 residential units is welcome: associated alterations should enhance the appearance of the area. It is still under  consideration.

Carolyn Oxenbury
Vice-Chairman