Moda Living’s Hove Central development reaches major milestone

Moda Living’s Brighton and Hove neighbourhood has reached its highest point.

The development company, which focuses on the private rental sector, is regenerating the former Sackville Road Trading Estate into a new “multigenerational neighbourhood” of more than 820 new homes, 564 of which will be build-to-rent apartments.

The neighbourhood, called Moda, Hove Central, will include six new buildings, with more than 60 per cent of the 8.8-acre site covered with new landscaped green spaces, pedestrian routes and public realm.

The new homes, ten per cent of which will be affordable and managed by Moda, range from studio apartments to three-bedroom homes.

To date, contractor Midgard has completed the foundations of all the blocks and construction of the steps going up to the main entrance has started.

In January, landscaping work will begin with fitting out work beginning in some of the blocks.

The first residents are expected to move in in the second half of 2023.

In addition to a 24-hour gym and fitness centre, residents will have access to a host of wellness-focused products and services, as well as roof terraces, communal lounges and co-working spaces, cycle cafes and 260 community care homes.

All residents will be given free access to home fitness app Fitt.

Additionally, a partnership with mental health expert Myndup gives residents subsidised access to services including counselling, meditation, and life coaching.

Tony Brooks, managing director at Moda Living, said: “This is a momentous stage in our regeneration of the former Sackville Road Trading Estate and seeing the views from the top of our tallest building really takes your breath away.

Tony Brooks managing director Moda Living, Kevin Keegan director at JRL Group, Peter Kyle MP for Hove and Portslade and James Blakey planning director Moda Living at the new development in Hove. (Image: Moda Living)

“Hove is a beautiful part of Sussex and we’re extremely proud to be a step closer to bringing these much-needed rental homes to Hove.

“Hove Central isn’t just for the residents. Working closely with Brighton and Hove Council, local resident groups and consultants, we’re delivering a new community hub for Hove, complete with open green space, new shops and amenities and beautiful, professionally managed public realm on this formerly disused industrial site.

“We look forward to welcoming the community to Moda, Hove Central next year.”

To mark the topping out, Hove artist Kirsti Davidson, who is currently working on the second of three 42m murals on Sackville Road for Moda Living, was invited to place a paintbrush in cement on the 18th storey of the building, the highest point of the development.

Guests, including MP for Hove and Portslade Peter Kyle, also attended the development to enjoy the views from the top to mark the milestone.

“Hove very much welcomes one of its newest residents,” he said.

“This is such an exciting milestone to have reached and I look forward to residents moving in next year.

“There were lots of developers that were interested in this site and came to see me about it. Moda was the only developer whose first conversation was “can you talk about the community around the site? Who are they and what are the characteristics, because we want to be part of that community”.”