IT IS not often that Brighton and Hove councillors fly in the face of advice from their officers, so their bravery ought to be recognised when it occurs.

The Hyde Group has won planning permission to build 59 flats and six terraced houses on the corner of Newtown Road in Hove. The site, which is currently an eyesore, was earmarked for the council for employment use.

The fact that no business owners wanted to touch it with a barge pole was apparently of no consequence.

Council officers argued that the developers had put forward very little information to justify the loss of employment space.

This is a mantra that has seen off numerous initiatives across the city and blighted its fortunes.

Thankfully nine of the 12 planning committee members showed the good sense to grant permission for the scheme to go ahead.

But the Hyde Group’s next project could prove even more controversial.

I visited the firm’s office in Davigdor Road to see for myself a scheme to build 32 family homes off Falmer Avenue in Saltdean on the edge of the South Downs National Park.

The architect, Alan Phillips, along with Rhys Daniel and his colleague Tom Shaw at Hyde, have consulted with residents and council officers and amended their original plans in light of what they have learned. It is a bold, imaginative scheme for attractive homes in an Art Deco style.

The demographics of the towns neighbouring the city are changing as young families move out of the centre in search of homes at a sensible price. I think they will be drawn to modern houses in places such as Saltdean and the area will be much improved by their presence.

No date has been set for the plans to be considered, but when they are councillors should give them a full and sympathetic hearing.

A sense of urgency is needed to ease the overcrowded housing in Brighton and Hove.

John Keenan, journalist

 

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