Future of Toads Hole Valley: developers appeal

Toads Hole Valley Limited has submitted an appeal to the government’s Planning Inspectorate, as the city council has not yet decided the planning application for the development in Hove.

The controversial development, just south of the A27 near King George VI Avenue, includes plans for new homes, a school, community/sports facilities, offices, and retail space.

The original planning application was made in November 2018 and received more than 450 comments.

• READ MORE: Toads Hole Valley: Fears traffic jams could get worse

However, the government agency responsible for motorways and major A roads, National Highways, has not yet been able to issue their opinion on the impact the development would have on local roads.

This has made it impossible to grant or refuse the application, Brighton and Hove City Council said.

A Planning Inspector will now be appointed, and a public inquiry held to determine the application.

This will start on Tuesday, June 6 and is expected to run until at least Wednesday, June 13.

A council spokesman said: "If you made representations on the application previously, we will forward these to the Inspector and they will be considered as part of the appeal.

"If you wish to make further comment, or change or withdraw previous comments, you can do so online through the Planning Inspectorate’s website.

How the Toads Hole Valley site could eventually look

"Alternatively, you can write to The Planning Inspectorate - FAO Robert Wordsworth, 3J Kite Wing, Temple Quay House, 2, The Square, Temple Quay, Bristol BS1 6PN.

"All representations must quote the reference BH2018/03633 and must be received no later than March 22, 2022."

The news comes after a petition claiming traffic jams in the area would worsen if the development was given the green light.

Hundreds of people signed the petition about traffic gridlock in the Hove Park area.

It read: “We the undersigned petition Brighton and Hove Council to review the road network in Hove Park ward and bring forward proposals to reduce congestion.

“In the next few years traffic in Hove Park ward will increase dramatically due to major developments in the area.

“It has been estimated that many roads will see an increase of between 30 per cent to 60 per cent.

“Roads in the ward are already heavily congested, causing huge problems for Brighton and Hove residents and visitors."

As part of the announced inquiry, Brighton and Hove City Council must submit its statement of case by March 22. This includes details of what decision the council’s planning committee would have made on the application, had it still been its decision to make.

The planning committee will therefore be holding a special meeting to advise on whether they would have approved or refused this application at 10:30am on Monday, March 21 at Hove Town Hall.

The meeting will be webcast online and any residents who wish to be heard at the meeting should follow the advice on the planning committee web pages.