Plans for a new rooftop restaurant in a “jewel-like extension” on top of one of Brighton’s ugliest tower blocks have been approved.
Tower Point in North Road is home to a car park on the lower floors, and its appearance doesn’t get that much better above that at the moment.
But new plans for the restaurant aim to top it off with a bit of style – complete with views across the city.
The plans have been submitted by Baron Homes, which also redeveloped the old council offices at Priory House into the Green Diamond complex.
It is also well known in the city as supplying temporary and emergency homeless accommodation to Brighton and Hove City Council at Windsor Court – the condition of which has been criticised by campaigners including Caroline Lucas MP.
It’s not clear whether any prospective restaurateurs are lined up to take on the space.
The original plans included penthouse flats on top of the other half of the block, but this element of the scheme was withdrawn.
The entrance lobby to the restaurant will be on Spring Gardens, with a reception and a lift just for diners.
The restaurant itself will be able to accommodate 88 people inside and another 84 on external terraces.
The designs were drawn up by local architects Stickland Wright. A spokesman said: “The existing Tower Point is a large Brutalist building which is conspicuous within the city, but not engaging with its local environment.
“The brutalist façade dominates the setting, yet it remains mute and uninspiring. Stickland Wright believe that the adornment of the building with a jewel like extension will provide a point of intrigue within the backdrop of Brighton’s central valley. In this way the individuality of the building can be more of an asset within the townscape.”
The site was originally occupied by the Hippodrome Circus in 1891, later best known as the Grand Theatre, which was eventually destroyed by fire in 1961. The replacement building which now stands on the site, originally known as Gresham House, had its name changed in early 2000 to Tower Point.
Nice! But build the penthouses too!