An outdated Brighton office building could be demolished and replaced by hundreds of studio flats aimed at young professionals.
The proposal to build an eight-storey block is recommended for approval when it goes before councillors next Wednesday (8 March).
The application is to demolish Enterprise Point and 16-18 in Melbourne Street, Brighton, and build 269 co-living studio flats and include 941 square metres of co-working business space.
London-based Kosy Co-Living and Crowborough company Cross Stone Securities said that the scheme would include communal kitchens, living rooms, a gym, laundry, landscaping and outdoor space.
The co-working space would include 410 co-working desks, reception, a kitchenette, bathrooms, meeting rooms, a cinema room, toilets and printers.
Cross Stone Securities was involved with a previous application by a Cheshire developer called Vita Brighton 1 at the site for an eight-storey block of more than 300 student rooms.
Brighton and Hove City Council’s Planning Committee refused the scheme in April 2019.
The latest application is next to an £18 million scheme to build a block of 83 “co-living” flats for young professionals on the site of an old garage and joinery in Melbourne Street. The earlier scheme was approved in July 2020.
Neighbours have sent 96 objections and 29 letters of support for the new proposal. Green councillors David Gibson and Steph Powell, who represent Hanover and Elm Grove ward, have also objected to the application.
Both are concerned about the future of property guardians living at the site – and Audio Active which is based in the building and supports young people, particularly those from disadvantaged and challenging backgrounds, through its music project.
Councillor Gibson said: “There is no doubt that Enterprise Point is in need of development. However, other than the welcome payment contribution to affordable housing (of £2.5 million), the proposal does little to alleviate the affordable housing crisis.
“The development provides no affordable housing on-site, and worse, it will entail the loss of the truly affordable living spaces of 40-plus property guardians currently living in Enterprise Point.”
Councillor Powell said: “The current building is five storeys high. In this small plot, the towering proposed build of eight stories will undoubtedly impact light for many nearby properties in Melbourne Street, as well as a number of houses in Shanklin Road.
“I also have huge concerns for the safety and impact on the children of St Martin’s CofE Nursery and Primary School, whose main entrance and play area is nestled right next to the proposed build.”
Neighbours have raised concerns about the lack of affordable housing and the need for family homes in the area.
One objector, whose details were redacted by the council, said: “The area does not need even more accommodation for single transient dwellers. It needs families and people to be able to get a suitable start on an affordable level.
“The proposed development far outnumbers the size, practicality and height of the building that is already there.”
Supportive comments on the council website are single sentences from people saying they are students at Sussex University and welcome the proposed development as they wish to stay in the area when they complete their studies.
A longer supporting statement, with details also redacted on the council website, said: “As a second-year student at the University of Sussex, I am currently living a few streets away from the site.
“This is exactly the accommodation that I will be looking for when leave uni and start my own business here.”
A report into the co-living market by real estate company Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) highlighted the demand for single-person households in Brighton and Hove, which comprise 36.4 per cent of the population.
JLL’s report said: “Brighton is facing increased pressure on its housing market due to both increasing population growth and an undersupply of housing.
“This, combined with the demographic make-up of the catchment area around the site, employment opportunities and a high proportion of private renters, combine to establish a demand for a co-living product.”
In its application, Kosy Living said that the existing 1960s building was “underused, defunct and unsuitable for 21st century needs”.
The company’s agent Third Revolution Projects said: “Many of the city’s high proportion of young and professional population cannot afford their own homes or are poorly served by the rental market.
“The applicant’s research has shown that the demographic of the area will be attracted to the quality and communal aspects offered by co-living.
“Rents are all-inclusive and affordable when compared with the rental sector rents (covering bills, council tax and use of all facilities), while offering modern bespoke living, high-quality private and communal internal and external areas for their exclusive use, with facilities that would not exist elsewhere in the private rental sector.
“The benefits are not confined to the quality of new modern accommodation and facilities but extend to hugely important socialisation and community benefits.”
The Planning Committee is due to meet at 2pm next Wednesday (8 March) at Hove Town Hall. The meeting is scheduled to be webcast on the council’s website.
Enterprise point is an historic building where much of the famous Brighton martial arts movie was shot. Essential viewing for any cinephile.
https://youtu.be/HjUfxfJDhU0
https://youtu.be/HjUfxfJDhU0 Shot at Enterprise house.
This is good new for employers in the city as young people will be able to more easily stay here after university and find accommodation to live. No family would want to live in student, drug addict central and hopefully all these new workers will help regenerate this location.
This is a horrible scheme. The development will tower over the neighbours, it is too too many people for a small one way residential street, and what fresh out of uni graduate can afford £1200 a month for essentially a posh bedsit. Hopefully it won’t get approved!
If it’s that expensive it will be for the overseas student market only. They would pay this if it’s good.
This is a great idea.
My daughter lives at home and is nealy 20, She is desperate for her own space but being paid minumium wage this not a possibility.
Knowning she was in a communal living environment this would make me and her feel more at ease with her moving out.
At £1200 a month its not going to be affordable for anyone on minimum wage sadly.
You will own nothing and be happy.
They can’t call it a prison cause no-one would move in.
As a recent graduate of Sussex University, local resident and Brighton tech entrepreneur I can confirm this is exactly what I’m not looking for.. I’ve got 3 co-working spaces within a stones throw and more post-grad digs then I can mention in the area. Give me great studio and arts spaces, a local pool/gym and a pop up market to reinvigorate the area, not
more overpriced shared accommodation
The proposed scheme would block a lot of light for residents in surrounding buildings. Over 40 people will be made homeless from enterprise point in a city that has a housing crisis for people who live here, not just here temporarily to study, any housing that is available are unaffordable rents too. Enterprise point is also supporting a massively beneficial non for profit project Audio Active supporting young people by providing workshops which gives them a space to get emotional support and get on track, learn new skills, space to create, peer support and so much more
The design looks nice! Day and night to what’s there now. I think something like this will be popular with young people in Brighton.
Well,at least the design is on a par with all the oversized, ugly student housing Lego blocks all along the Lewes Road (and more on the way!)
Will Brighton ever again see housing for families being built or is the the Lewes /London Road area being totally abandoned to students and singletons?
27 accessible flats promised – I wonder how many will actually make it to the build or will this be another example where a company just makes a little extra ‘bung’ by way of the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL). If it goes get passed, I hope someone questions why there are only 8 or 9 DIsabled Parking Bays for 27 accessible flats, not including parking that could be needed by disabled visitors. Or is this scheme only for ‘some’ disabled people and not those who rely on a vehicle to get out and about for work and pleasure?
If the development “provides no affordable housing on-site”, I think it cannot claim to be targeted at young professionals.