Empty Brighton bank could become flats with rooftop terrace

The old Royal Bank of Scotland building in Castle Square, Brighton, has been empty since 2022, with parts of the building now deteriorating and in a "poor condition".

In new plans submitted to Brighton and Hove City Council, Lewis and Co Planning SE Ltd, on behalf of DSquared Investments Limited, has proposed turning the first and second floors of the building into nine apartments.

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These would be a mix of one and two-bedroom homes with open-plan kitchen, living and dining room areas.

The residents of the flats would have access to a communal bike storage area downstairs and a communal roof terrace upstairs which would have plants and seating.

All other parts of the building, including the third floor, would be kept for commercial purposes only.

DSquared Investments Limited said that the works for these plans will involve mainly internal alterations, with the only minor external work being the changes to the roof terrace.

It added these works will be kept minimal to avoid disruption for people living nearby.

A spokesman for DSquared Investments Limited said: "After several years of vacancy in a prominent city centre location, the site offers the opportunity for a welcome reuse and refurbishment that delivers new housing in a highly sustainable location.

"The delivery of new homes in this area reflects the evolving character of the area following similar changes of use to neighbouring buildings.

"The proposal would deliver new housing that will directly address identified needs for additional homes in the city, and specifically delivers two-bedroom homes which form a significant proportion (up to half) of all local housing needs.

"Given the council’s housing land supply shortfall of 7,786 homes, this development is particularly beneficial in meeting an urgent need for new housing."

The council is set to decide on whether to approve the plans by September 16.