Extension plans at L3 Harris factory in Brighton refused

Brighton and Hove City councillors unanimously rejected the plans submitted by manufacturing company L3 Harris for its Moulsecoomb factory.

The extension was granted a temporary, five-year permission in 2018. It is located at the back of the site, Home Farm Road, in the north-western corner, measures 15 metres by 15 metres and is 7.6 metres high.

Hundreds of people objected to the plans over the factory’s supply of bomb racks for fighter jets used in the Israel-Gaza conflict.

In total 603 comments were received, including 602 objections and one in support. A petition with 130 signatures was also received.

Campaigners applauded as the refusal was read out this afternoon at Hove Town Hall.

Councillor Liz Loughran, chairwoman of the council’s planning committee, said: “The Public Sector Equality Duty requires the council to pay due regard to the need to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation and to the fostering of good relations between persons of one race and another, or of one religion and another.

"It is our view that the impacts on equality and community relations are so great that the application should be refused.”

Protesters set up a peace camp (Image: Natasa Leoni)

Prior to the meeting, the council sought legal advice on the potential implications of the application.

Councillors were advised to consider whether granting or refusing the application for planning permission could have a disproportionate impact on individuals or groups with protected characteristics.

In the meeting, committee members were given a presentation by planning officers and heard from speakers before discussing the application. Key considerations discussed were the principle of the development, the design and impact on the character of the area and other material considerations.

Following a debate, the committee decided to refuse planning permission, with no councillors voting in favour of the scheme and nine voting against it.

Campaigners have been protesting outside the council's planning committee meetings every month since March. They have also taken action at the factory, held a peace camp for five weeks at the bottom of Home Farm Road and disrupted the last council meeting.

In a deputation inside today’s meeting, Maude Casey, a representative of Brighton Migrant Solidarity and the Stop L3Harris campaign shared statements from a Palestinian member of the community and a Jewish member of the community, both of who have loved ones in Gaza.

Activists blocked gates at the arms factory in Moulsecoomb (Image: @aarons.will)

A demonstration attended by over 100 people took place outside the hall during the meeting. This also included an art installation of hundreds of names of children written on ribbons who have been killed in Gaza since October 7.

Herbie, a Jewish Palestinian activist and Moulsecoomb resident who did not give their surname, said: “I can see L3Harris factory on Home Farm Road from my house. Living across the road from a factory that’s profiting from the killing of innocent civilians in Gaza has contributed to my declining mental health over the last eight months.

“It haunts me knowing that my Gazan friends’ families could be killed at any moment, by weapons made in a factory in eyesight from my kitchen. I feel powerless and hopeless and have had to go on antidepressants to cope with my plummeting mental health. Please, shut it down.”

Nidaa, a Palestinian Brighton constituent who also did not give their surname, said: "I’m a Palestinian woman living in Brighton with my family. It deeply saddens me to know there’s an arms manufacturer on our doorstep. This mustn’t be normalised and they need to shut down immediately.

“My family in Gaza have been deeply affected by the use of chemical weapons by the occupation.”