Developers have shared a first look at plans for housing to be built on urban woodland described as Hove’s “last green lung”.
A two-week public consultation opened today on two options for up to 100 homes across Benfield Valley in Hangleon.
Hollybrook Homes is proposing either spreading homes across both sites or only on the northern half. In both scheme, 40 per cent of the homes would be affordable.
The first, Option A, would see about 60 homes on the land to the north and about 40 homes on the land to the south of Hangleton Lane.
The second, Option B, would be to build homes only on the private land north of Hangleton Lane, currently used as a footgolf course, leaving the land to the south as a community parkland.
A renovation of Benfield Barn is also included in both schemes, with suggested uses including a community hub, a wildlife centre, the start of nature trail, a country café using allotment produce, a dog washing facility, beekeeping, or kids nature colouring.
The exhibition boards in the public consultation said: “Our ambition is to sympathetically renovate Benfield Barn for community use and to bring back to life its associated structures, with cottages and work units, better linking it to the existing local community and the new homes.”
The developers are asking local residents in a survey which design option they would prefer, the investment and activities they would like to see in the Benfield Valley parkland and what community uses for Benfield Barn could be suggested.
The plans also used photographs of a Cambridge housing scheme at Great Kneighton by the developer’s architects, Proctor and Matthews.
David Godden, project director from Hollybrook Homes, said: “We have appointed a high quality design team who have reviewed the site very carefully and consider there could be a better alternative approach which delivers benefits to the local community and reduces the environmental impact of the scheme within the Valley.
“We would very much like to hear people’s views on the idea of combining the housing site, and to safeguard and enhance the open area south of Hangleton Lane as community parkland.
”We are committed to the long-term management of the valley and working collaboratively with the local community.
“We have a real opportunity here to do something very positive, which not only delivers much needed homes, including 40 per cent affordable housing, but also invests in the ecology and recreation of Benfield Valley.”
In option B, the land to the south of Hangleton Lane – currently used by dog walkers and BMX cyclists – would be kept as community parkland which could include new wildlife areas, footpaths, signage and seating.
The developer’s exhibition boards say the parkland would have a mix of recreational footpaths and ecological areas, while retaining and improving the BMX track.
Benfield Valley, described by campaigners as a green lung between Hangleton and Portslade, contains a number of habitats for protected species of wildlife.
Brighton’s city plan, agreed by councillors in October 2022, allocates two sites in the valley for housing, meaning that it is far more likely that the schemes would be approved.
The public drop-in exhibition is open at Hangleton Manor pub from 4pm to 8pm today and tomorrow (Thursday, 30 November) where residents can see options and proposals, and give their feedback.
The plans will also be available online at benfieldpark.co.uk until Thursday 14 December, with a survey to provide feedback https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BenfieldSurvey.
More building on green space – utterly shameful if this is allowed to go ahead. The local councillors should hang their heads in shame
Absolutely abhorrent! Which part of HOVE’S LAST GREEN LUNG do the Council NOT GET? We are losing so much of our beautiful and crucial to our survival green spaces. Why can’t these greedy developers use brownfield sites. Most of these boxes will be unaffordable and blighting the countryside that we need to protect.
Where do all these extra homes get doctor, dentis and school provision. Extra homes should come with infrastructure plans for sewerage, and services. The local areas are already heavily over subscribed.
Our schools are at risk of shutting down due to record lows in pupil intake. Half of the local primary schools in Brighton and Hove are at risk. Don’t believe the propaganda in the media that our schools are overflowing they are just underfunded and lack student intake!!
This will be the development in the local plan that LABOUR ( our current masters ) voted for. Yet, when challenged on the doorstep as to why they voted for it the answer was “If we win the local election Labour will ensure nothing is built on Benfield Valley”. There’s stretching the truth like all politicians do and then there is down right lying !!!!!
This development should not go ahead and Benfield Valley should be protected forever …. as it actually is under a covenant from Lord Sainsbury but Labour ( and the Greens ) seem to have forgotten this.
We could have more student flats!
No no no this is a terrible idea. This is where everyone goes for a walk to get fresh air and there is so much wild life. It’s so greedy. Brighton and hove is over populated as it is we do not need more housing.Pepole will just have to move out if they can’t afford it.
Well looking at this it looks flipping awful god help us if this gets the go ahead it might look good to some people but this is a much used green space by alot of people and a lot of wild life habitat hear
People come before wildlife!
Without wildlife we would cease to exist.
So supporting the over population which encroaches on all our wildlife and creates climate change is the right thing??!!!!
So you would like to live in a country where green fields and wildlife are only seen in films and photos
If you hate this so much move to one of the sink hole estates in London or other big city
To add an addendum to your ignorant comment: self-righteous people before wildlife. Shameful.
The environment comes before people.
Without trees, plant life and animals, people will cease to exist.
At the rate Britain is being concreted over in a few generations this island will be uninhabitable
Affordable? Ha Ha Ha. Developers ain’t in the business of affordability or environmentalism. Plain hard cash and pretty badly constructed homes with dodgy leaseholds.
I think this looks great – Option B preferably. Build much-needed housing on the golf course, and rejuvenate the open land areas and old barn. It should give the whole valley a new lease of life.
When you say “rejuvenate the open land areas” – well the plan is to make a manicured parkland. Something neither the wild life nor the users want or need. The council can hardly maintain the current parks and gardens so why make another one ? Option B is certainly the best of two awful options but strangely the survey / consultation doesn’t offer an option C – don’t build there. I can’t imagine why given the developers have paid the council millions for the leasehold. It’s a done deal – council has it’s money – developers will get one of of the two options. Public consultation my backside !
Rejuvenate what?
It’s already ok for wildlife. Do any of you remember the disgusting act of grubbing out all of the hedgerows bang in nesting season not too many years back? They couldn’t give a Hillbilly Flying F**k about wildlife.
As for the barn. If you think that will amount to anything you’re not up to date with promises from thousands of developers on thousands of new developments that reneged on promises.
It looks like an internment camp with no gardens. They won’t deliver the affordable housing, they never do. The land is already “used” for ecology and wont benefit from being fragmented and covered in concrete. If they really want to “invest in ecology and recreation’ they should just leave it alone to do what it already does. Benfield is better off without it.
Here here
LOOKS GREAT!!
A great development and much needed homes for families in the area with 40 homes for affordable housing. That’s 40 families or 160 (ish) people no longer homeless in the Borough.
I’m sure all those commenting are doing so from their comfortable homes which they own… Or they could of course buy from the developers and gift to the community for use? GoFundMe? People do realise this is private land and not public space?
How do u know people buying these properties are homeless ? That is naive at best
I know the 40 homes will be affordable (council housing) which for example depending on their size etc will mean for a family of four who is living in bed and breakfast will be able have a home. Don’t you want 40 families to have homes? Or should the affordable homes go elsewhere?
Who do you think gets an affordable home in Hove?
Someone from London looking for a cheap house by sea?
They will never be affordable homes, developers run out of money and can’t afford to sell them cheaply.
This is already a congested area should be fun at rush hour with all the extra traffic.
This is so wrong on so many counts, it’s called “Hove’s lady Green Lung” for a reason!
No infrastructure
A strain on local medical centres
There are many species in f “protected wildlife & flora”!
It is already an area of natural beauty l Ave it alone!
The proposed building materials are out of keeping and will be an absolute eyesore
Hove doesn’t do “affordable “ housing!
Leave FootGolf and the Barn alone FG is very popular and into lose this is just unjustifiable
Traffic in this area is already busy, this will result n one disaster after another.
Option C – leave untouched – remains the best option. What I find curious is that these appear to be designs from just one company, whereas in an open competition it might be expected to have other design companies pushing alternative designs, even if the outcome was to leave as-is. It feels like a decision to build has already been made, and that option B will be taken .. option A is only provided to deflect criticism of option B.
Unbelievable how many people are of the attitude not in my back yard.
Do people not understand that there are thousands of people who need much badly needed homes and this small scheme will only be a dot on the landscape of providing much needed houses for people.
No doubt there are many young people in this area will be only to happy to purchase one of these new homes.
It’s obvious that from the design I have seen they have put a lot of thought into the details of the homes as well as the areas of open space as well.
This particular company Hollybrook homes are excellent at building only best quality homes be it houses or apartments.
They don’t do short cuts or shabby work but only the best.
What a shame to develop on this beautiful land. It is used and enjoyed by so many. In my opinion it should all be part of benfield nature reserve. There are so many different creatures and wildlife that this development would affect.
The traffic is already bad. When the new development was agreed in Mile Oak, it was on the basis that they would do something to ease traffic. This hasn’t happened. This development will just make the situation worse.
Option C.
I can imagine if this lot gets built the next thing will be complaints about road noise from the link road……Ridiculous idea.
NO!
There is plenty of brownfield space that should be considered/prioritised for development, and our greenfield sites should be kept as greenfield space. The council has a duty to protect our environment and prevent greedy developers from destroying it. Affordable housing is never affordable housing, just a convenient way for developers to put a spin on their plans to make money by creating unsustainable communities and damaging the environment in the process. I hope the scheme is rejected outright!
No this is not wanted. This is dressed up to fit all and it really only fits the developer to get a foothold to build another 100 dwellings & a further 100 dwellings until all the Leasehold Land is full ! A 100 dwellings is 100 too many. This is not a bit of land for let’s get rich quick, there are plenty of brown field sites in the City and beyond to fill this developers needs. Please look elsewhere.
The reasons for not building on this land is well documented, wildlife, Green Lung to the South Downs National Park, ( I will never understand why this Valley was never included for its protection, or was part of the then Councils plan?) recreation for families , dog walkers, cyclists, protected species, the list is endless.
Certainly homes are needed but the Council should tackle why 1 in 30 properties are standing empty in this City. Also to look at conversion of unused office accommodation! Then there is the location and suitability. Has nobody done research that is truthful? Hangleton Lane at the moment mornings & evenings can be at standstill. This added development would nothing to help this. Greater pollution than now so where is the care for the environment ? Not to mention the impact on local services , schools, GP’s, Dentists etc.
No this must not happen. So Brighton & Hove City Council get this land removed from the City Plan 2 and tell the Developer it is no longer needed !
The spin that has been placed on this development is treating the Community as ignorant. Affordable homes are never affordable to those on low incomes, this is all about making profit otherwise why do it ?
No!
We have plenty of blocks of flats including studio accommodation being built in Hove & Brighton and not all will get sold or rented. Know to more traffic that our infrastructure can not even handle now.
What we need is more open spaces. places where the community can go to and someone
from the council and government that will listen to the people and not their agenda or line their pockets with money.