A property developer has gained permission to put an extra storey on top the house he rents out as an Airbnb – but planners have said this doesn’t mean he has carte blanche to continue using it as a holiday let.
Charlie Southall – best known in Brighton for ripping green tiles off the Montreal Arms pub – lets out the two bedroom house in Gloucester Road via Airbnb.
This week, Brighton and Hove City Council approved his application to add a third storey to the house – previously a shop on the ground floor with housing above – despite several objections from neighbours.
A report by planning officer Alice Johnson says: “Following information provided as part of an enforcement case it was concluded that there had not been a material change of use when the property use changed to a dwellinghouse on all levels. Therefore the use as a dwellinghouse is lawful.
“It is noted that the property is used as an Airbnb. This application does not seek to change the use of the property.
“As such the assessment of the application does not include this and the assessment is based purely on the proposal and the lawful use as a dwellinghouse.
“Concerns have been raised in objections about the noise caused by the additional storey.
“Significant additional noise is not anticipated as the use of the dwellinghouse remains as existing.”
The council’s planning enforcement team has this year served three enforcement notices on the owners of houses, requiring them to stop letting them out as short-term holiday lets – the latest in Tidy Street, just around the corner from Mr Southall’s property.
The council’s website says: “You might need planning permission to use a living space for a short-term holiday let.
“The need for planning permission will depend on how much the use of the property changes as a result of being available for short-term holidays.”
The application, which included replacing the ground floor windows with one more resembling the original shopfront window, was the second Mr Southall made at the site.
A previous one, which included a roof terrace and rooflights, was withdrawn.
The approved application was objected to by four neighbours and the North Laine Community Association – but as one comment was left after the consultation period had ended, it did not count towards the five required for an application go before councillors.
That objection said: “This property is already notorious in the area for being a noisy Airbnb – it is a self proclaimed ‘party house’ and adds nothing to the local area, even less so by adding more space for further guests.
“The residents will be a constant rotation of people who have come to party and have little respect for the local area.
“We battle with litter, abusive behaviour and noise already with Airbnb’s in general causing issue and damage to what is meant to be an important conservation area.”
Charlie Southall has put another rental flat he owns in Walpole Road, Kemp Town, on the market for £450,000.
Mr Southall’s wife, Viktorija Garskaite, applied for planning permission to alter the roof of the flat and build in front and rear dormers, which was approved in March.
Both applications were written by planning agent Connor McCarron, who represented Mr Southall in his failed appeal against Brighton and Hove City Council’s enforcement notice requiring the Montreal Arms pub’s tiles be reinstated.
Mr Southall now has until July to replace the tiles.
I really can’t see Mr Southall replacing the tiles on The Montreal Arms by July.
A piece of unwarranted vandalism.
This couple really aren’t trying to win any popularity contests locally! Time for some serious regulation of Airbnb properties, including stopping use of individual properties if they cause ANY sort of nuisance to neighbours. Also increase the council tax if it’s in permanent use as holiday lets, it’s a business like any other, so tax it at commercial rates (and hopefully discourage more Airbnbs). And, Charlie, if you’ve got the money to do this, perhaps you should fix up the Montreal Arms first. Getting a bit tired of having a derelict property at the end of the road.
Why are you obsessed with the Montreal pub ? It was derelict and falling down before he brought it and empty for ages as people wouldn’t drink in there
To be fair, those tiles are worth a pretty penny. The building itself is just a minor extra. Unfortunately, he didn’t do his homework.
Broken green tiles worth money ?
The historically valuable distinctively green glazed ceramic tiles? Yes sir.
To be honest I don’t care about the green tiles, but I do object to seeing the property left derelict and being allowed to deteriorate further. It looks horrible, it’s dangerous, it’s a waste of housing space and must be difficult if you live on either side of it. The owner seems to be a bit of a chancer, he decided to knock the tiles off to see if he could get away with it. He didn’t get away with it, so now he needs to fix it up, by court order. I would have been happy to see it demolished and a new build put in it’s place, but it’s not up to me.
I’d be keen to see it become something new too. It’s a big eyesore currently, and an empty space is a worthless space socially.
It was derelict before he brought it
Apart from the fact I spent many happy hours drinking there, so called developers cannot be allowed to just to destroy properties. Planning permission is there for a reason. Getting the property repaired did not need the building being denuded.
The tiles themselves have a fair bit of value to them, I suspect that might be at the mens rea of the Montreal story.
You probably know me then as I was in there 6 nights a week and played darts for them. Perhaps if there were more people like us it wouldn’t of had to shut down and the building going to rack and ruin
Are you a member of Royal family Charlie, referring to yourself in third person?
Hello Charlie!
How come if someone has a different opinion to someone on here they’re accused of being Charlie 😭 I’ve seen it a few times dopeys 🤦♂️ people that comment on here are as bad as the “ jurno “ that wrote the article
This wasn’t about the Montreal Arms, although it seems to have become that. Maybe we could stick to the point and concentrate on the junior council official who dealt with this application (for the Air Bnb, not the pub).
Sure thing, sounds like just because he gained permission to develop an extra story, he may not be allowed to use it as a holiday let. That’ll be quite sneaky, and honestly, considering how I have witnessed him act before, would be quite karmic.
He will be allowed to use it as a holiday let unless the neighbours get enforcement action going. The planning and enforcement action are two separate issues.
Can we have please a bit more information on the following?” The council’s planning enforcement team has this year served three enforcement notices on the owners of houses, requiring them to stop letting them out as short-term holiday lets – the latest in Tidy Street, just around the corner from Mr Southall’s property.”
Which house in Tidy St? Can find no record of this.