Portslade residents slam plans for new homes on site of garages

Sam Stevens of Highcroft Construction has submitted proposals to Brighton and Hove City Council to demolish the garages behind homes in Broomfield Drive, Portslade, and build three two-storey homes and a bungalow on the land.

There would also be car parking and landscaping on the site.

The garages currently provide 24 car parking spaces but with the development, just six will remain.

Neighbours have complained of the reduction in spaces but also the “detrimental effect on property value” caused by the development.

In an online objection, one neighbour said: “This proposal is worse than the original application which I did not think was possible.

A mock up of the rear of the three two-storey homes (Image: BHCC)

“The addition of the bungalow is too close to the rear of property gardens and will lead to gardens and rear of houses being overlooked.

“Not only that, the noise associated with the demolition of the garages will make day-to-day living unbearable.

• READ MORE: Industrial building to be demolished and replaced with flats

A bird's eye view of the plans. The site currently has space for 24 cars (Image: BHCC)

“Access to the site down the current very narrow road will be a complete nightmare.

“Site traffic will struggle to access the site and the burden on already overstretched parking both during and after building will be untenable.

"Plus the extra people associated on top of all the recent new builds will put further stress on local doctors, school places etc, it is frankly ridiculous.”

Another complained that there would be a health risk from removing the garage roofs, which the objector said are “laden with asbestos”.

A mock-up of the bungalow (Image: BHCC)

They added: “The access passes so closely to the front doors of two properties - if they have young families this becomes a safety issue for them at the very least.

“The increased traffic load past their doors would be a very stressful inconvenience.

“The access is so narrow, I don't see how a fire engine would have access if needs be.”

The plans, submitted to the council on February 22, will be the subject of a consultation on Tuesday, March 26, before a decision is made.