Plans for 221 “co-living” studio flats go before councillors next week, with officials recommending that the scheme is approved.
The plans, for Enterprise Point, at 16-18 Melbourne Street, Brighton, were submitted to Brighton and Hove City Council by London firm Kosy Co Living EP and Crowborough company Cross Stone Securities.
The application, for buildings up to seven storeys high, are due to go before the council’s Planning Committee on Wednesday 8 May.
The council refused a previous application for 269 co-living flats at the same site in March last year.
But the developer appealed against the refusal – and planning permission was granted for the flats which include communal kitchens, living rooms, a shared gym and laundry.
The latest plans include a co-working area with 1,060 square metres of business space – room for 410 desks, a kitchenette, bathrooms, meeting rooms and a cinema room.
Kosy Co Living submitted an affordability statement, saying that a bedroom in one of its co-living units would cost £1,440 a month including all bills, fully equipped rooms, use of the gym, cleaning and access to the co-working space.
The scheme would be integrated with what the company calls “phase one” at 19-24 Melbourne Street.
The council has received 84 letters objecting to the scheme and 34 letters of support.
Those objecting to the application said that there was a need for family homes rather than co-living flats. They were concerned that the proposals would be used for holiday lets or “glorified student accommodation”.
Supporters said that Enterprise Point was a “blight” on the landscape and that the those renting the proposed flats would not be transient or students.
One objector, whose details were redacted by the council, said: “These developments are not affordable for many people and are frankly soulless in a city that seems to be clinging desperately to its soul and heritage.
“The local area will be affected by the increased traffic, noise and activity.”
A supporter, whose details were also redacted, said: “As a Brighton resident who has grown up children, who lived in shared flats as this type of housing was not available when they were younger, I think that this is an essential type of development this city needs for the future.
“It encourages young people who will be the lifeblood that helps Brighton flourish to live in a place they would be proud to call home rather than having to live in poor-quality shared flats or HMOs (houses in multiple occupation).”
Councillors are urged to grant planning permission subject to conditions. These include
- a £2.5 million payment towards affordable housing elsewhere in Brighton and Hove
- a five-year “travel plan”
- hosting a bikeshare docking station
- a £41,000 contribution towards public art
- taking on local workers for at least 20 per cent of the jobs from the demolition work to the construction phase
The Planning Committee is due to meet at 2pm at Hove Town Hall on Wednesday (8 May). The meeting is scheduled to be webcast on the council’s website.
Hmm, do we want Brighton to become a sea of high-rise compact dwellings ? – these seem like glorified HMOs.
on that topic – should we reduce the HMO houses if these things do get built as that are catering for the same people/demographic. This should free up family houses that were converted to HMOs
More flats that are of good quality makes HMOs look pointless so hopefully less demand for them
Yer another nail in the coffin of family homes in a large area of Brighton. There is NO evidence to suggest that the large number student housing blocks have reduced the number of HMOs at all and I doubt that this development will either.
The Lewes and London Road districts have been designated as high rate crime areas which is not unsurprising where there is large itinerant population with little or interest in looking after the area they are living in anti-social behaviour will increase. At the rate Brighton is going the only family homes available will be in the expensive affluent suburbs far out the price range of ordinary working families…
How many family homes do you reckon they could get on that plot, 20 max. Wouldn’t make a blind bit of difference. It’s a much better use of space to put flats there, good transport links, retail ect. If we want family homes in the number that will make any kind of impact we need 2 things:
Another moulscoomb/bevingdean between falmer and woodingdean
Or
A few thousand flats and hopefully some boomers to downsize from the family homes they occupy needlessly. Go to patcham, hangelton, coldean, bevingdean, hollingdean full of old people in family homes.
This is already a done deal as it forms part of a HUGE VILLAGE of over 500 units called Kosy Living. The largest development has already been approved by the planning inspectorate on appeal.
Its a real shame that those in power are not stopping these developments. Disguised as a ‘solution’ to the housing crisis it is clear to see these are just developers cashing in on what is an already very expensive area to live. These rooms with a pull down bed don’t even meet the national minimum standard for size. They will be over £1700 a month. No children or social housing is provided by this development!
The big build on Lewes Road (with more highrises to come), Kosy Living, Circus Street and the Gas Works are all part of a very large back handed corrupt deal with developers that are making this city an even more unaffordable place to live.
The planning committee only has limited grounds to reject schemes no matter how much councillors and planning officers might not like them.
And like the first stage if the committee did reject it they applicant will just take it to the planning inspectorate (part of the government) and appeal against the councils decision.
And whilst there isn’t any social housing in this scheme the applicants have proposed a £ 2.5m “in lieu” payment. It’s a strange “back handed corrupt deal” that gets listed not only in the committee papers but also in the media!
Chris you are completely missing the point!
2.5 million is NOTHING in comparison to what Kosy Living and Paul Brudell will be making from this scheme once its built. There is also no guarantee where that money will go?
Melbourne Street is a tiny one way round with a primary school on it. This URBAN VILLAGE will completely out shadow everything on the road.
Its a complete overdevelopment that provides no housing for what is so badly NEEDED in Brighton. Brighton is now closing primary schools because families are moving away. Rent is unaffordable completely unaffordable.
This is a real set back for the city and sad to see.
Please let me know if you will be paying £1500 for a box room…. or if anyone else will be for that matter?
Decent sized family homes already exist in this area, but a huge number of them are handed over to HMO/student housing that are clearly poorly maintained, with relentless turnover by remnants with no commitment to or consideration of the local area. I love you the hill from this proposed development and feel it would be great but it needs to backed up by a plan to turn the family-sized homes around it back into family homes. Traffic reduction around Hartington rd should also be considered because the road quality is shocking and already over used as a shortcut past Elm Grove.
If the appeal has gone through, there’s not a great deal that can be done to prevent this, so pragmatically get resources to work elsewhere.
I wonder how many people with some connection to the development are posting comments in defense of it?
This council is driving out families who are the future of the city, and filling it with transients and students who do not pay towards the upkeep of the city.
Yes, students can significantly contribute to a city’s economy. They bring in revenue through tuition fees, spending on accommodation, food, entertainment, and other services. Additionally, they can attract businesses catering to their needs, stimulate demand for local goods and services, and contribute to the cultural vibrancy of the city.