A major Brighton building project has been temporarily put on hold after a construction giant went into administration.
Henry Construction Projects was working on Preston Barracks on Lewes Road when it called in administrators earlier this month.
Residents living opposite Preston Barracks, where a new medical centre was meant to be built, say they now feel they are living in limbo
One resident of Saunders Park View said: “We’ve had our lives hugely impacted by noise and building work since 2018.
“One of the few benefits for this development for us was that there would be a new GP surgery, local shops and new social housing in a area which is impacted by social deprivation.
“Now none of this is happening, and empty unfinished buildings loom over our street for who knows how long! It feels like all our lives are in turmoil whilst we wait to see what’s going to happen.”
A spokesperson from Landsec-U+I said, “We were sorry to learn that Henry Construction has ceased to trade. We’re working with our partners to ensure we complete the development to the highest standard for all key stakeholders, as soon as possible.
“We are still aiming to open the medical centre in 2024.”
Brighton and Hove News contacted Southern Housing, which is delivering the social housing on the site, but did not receive a response.
Last year, two of Henry Construction Projects’ directors, Elizabeth and Mark Henry, were fined £20,000 each after failing to renew the licence for hoarding outside Brighton Rox, which Henry Construction Project Ltd had the contract to build.
Building materials were left on the pavement for many months.
Editor’s note: This article was amended to remove references to Anston House after it became clear Henry Construction is no longer working on that project.
Just for the record, you’re wrong about One Preston Park. First Base sold the project to Hestia two years ago. Their construction company JRL Midgard have been wrecking our peace and quiet since 7am this morning and unfortunately there is no sign of them shutting up.
I’ve no doubt Henry has gone bust with how they performed on site . I worked for a company delivering concrete to them and it was a performance. Lucky if I got home before 10 at night when we was delivering to them poor company things can only get better for the people that live around there now Henry’s has gone .
This article contains some factual errors. The Anston House site is being constructed by another builder, Henry Construction has no involvement in the site. Hyde and First Base sold the Anston House site in 2022 (see the accounts of One Preston Park LLP filed at companies house).
Mark Henry done the same in 2009 under lancsville construction,17th of December,the lad is a fraud,did nobody check his history before handing out massive contracts to him?. Massive brown envelope .
Criminal how Lewes Rd has been turned into a fugly dystopia of Bladerunneresque flats…made up of tiny boxes to “house” council tax payers and cash cow foreign students.
What a shambles of a company uses mostly foreign labour and illegals worked on fruit market job for a couple of months in Brighton never again and what a aragant Jack the lad the owner was the university should hold there head in shame how corrupt
We have been invaded by the “Dross of London” plain and simple. They have wrecked Brighton & Hove. It is true that we have always had a transient community, but we’ve never had an invasion of mammoth proportions before!
It is now and has now altered the complexion of Brighton & Hove. We used to be an omni-accepting community and that seems to have been our downfall. Our kindness was mistaken for weakness by the “Londonites”! The kind of people who preach diversity yet practice conformity. Bit by bit, they have now transformed Brighton & Hove into being a poor imitation of the cr*p hole that they left – London! An over priced, over populated rude arrogant and angry metropolis with the new poor air quality to match London!
Most locals now can’t even afford to live or even socialise in their own area of origin – Brighton & Hove. So you’ll perhaps excuse us for being acidly angry at the very people who have caused this – the Londonites or DFL’s!!!
Previously Brighton & Hove was a carefree, extremely good value for money place with reasonably prices, including local property – then the “Dross of London” arrived in catastrophic numbers, together with their arrogance and rudeness.
Many of the arrivals bought numerous properties and then pushed up the rents to extortionate levels that locals can’t afford.
Here’s the message from the local community – Go Back to Bl**dy London and do us all a favour!
Then Brighton & Hove can then go back to being what it once was – a nice place! Lots of love, a Brighton Local (a real one!!!) Fourth generation Brightonian.
What an odd rant
As you said Brighton has always had a transient population.
We are an overcrowded little island and more homes need to be built.
The Southeast is where the money is in comparison to the rest of the country which is why people want to be here.
Couple that with the fact that there will always be the ” have,and the have nots” but with the caveat that generally people are better off than their grandparents were.
The clock can’t be turned back to some rose coloured past .
Homelessness and bad housing has always been a problem. Photos from the early 70’s will show you how bad housing was then.
What a load of drivel – England and/or the UK isn’t an overpopulated little island. Go to Belgium where they have an extra 100 people per km and are not known for skyscrapers or tall buildings.
Well Said and Agree after knowing Brighton for 35 Years….. Right ON 👍
Your like 3 weeks late reporting on this ,horse has bolted,but you could try and find him, whoever was in bed with him, constructive journalism,he owes dogs on the street money, he’ll never even be skint,dear me,circus street and the rest, let’s get a explanation about it all/ Sussex university, take the mantle .
He’s still a director of 5 companies and was a director of 27 dissolved companies,somebodies not doing due diligence checks.
I agree about Mark Henry. He’s an arrogant, self centred fraud. I’ve worked on a few Henry builds and it’s long been a well known fact what he’s is. Cheap, inexperienced foreign labour is an understatement. The man needs investigating and locking up.
I had the pleasure of meeting Mr Henry on site, and he was nothing but a gentleman. I am sorry that he has been let down by his team who seemed nothing more than inept. The commercial team have alot to answer for.
You met him once on a building site? gentleman, and what did you see in his staff that struck you as inept?, been there done that, have you worked for him not to get paid, did you have to borrow money at Christmas time hence December 17 2009, don’t mate, you haven’t a clue,I know plenty of gentlemen that he ripped off,mark Henry get back in the sea were you belong.
Been there done that,so has Henry, been there done everyone,mug.
I wonder if the huge amount of plant and machinery was ever traced and recovered when they went bust before back in 2009??
Not at all, called the administrator and was told 32 million pounds worth had disappeared of the face of the earth, anyone else want to stand up for mr Henry the gentleman .
Henry Construction were very good to me for years. Without them I wouldn’t be where I am today. People need to remember lots of job opportunities were created.
I live at old fruit market in Brighton and it’s only 6 years old but looks 25 years old. Buildings insurance is very busy
Henry construction booby trapped sewers and student block rooms. Bricks in sewers. So block later on.
Terrible interior walls. Shame I found out after I got mortgage.