Plans to redevelop the landmark Vantage Point high-rise block near Preston Circus, in Brighton, went on public display yesterday (Thursday 20 September).
The owner Periworld wants to replace the nine-storey block in New England Road, along with Circus Parade, a three-storey terrace, with three buildings containing flats and shops – and a new public square.
During the past two years the area has had a facelift with an astroturfed space and new planted areas.
The building houses a wide variety of businesses including BRICTT performing arts college, Bird Studios and Mooncup.
Proposals presented at a public event at the Clarendon Centre, in New England Street, showed three blocks up to 16 storeys high.
The development would include 88 flats, 96 purpose-built student homes, 10,460 square metres of office space and 1,865 sqm of retail.
Periworld’s owner James Delicata described it as a long-term project which would allow current tenants to move to new buildings from the existing one.
He said: “There are many issues. It’s a nice block in terms of offices for medium and small companies, but companies cannot expand if they want to double their size or take a whole floor.”
He hopes that one block could house smaller businesses with a second block more suitable for larger companies as they start to grow.
An architect’s model showed the proposed buildings in context with the proposal by Legal and General for the neighbouring Longley Industrial Estate.
A planning application has already been submitted by L&G.
Periworld hope to submit its plans, drawn up by Brighton architects Yelo, later this year.
A spokesman said: “We are pleased to unveil our proposals, which have come at an exciting time, as the council’s vision for the London Road area has really started to be realised.
“The public exhibition was an excellent opportunity for us to understand the views of the local community and receive their feedback on the proposals.
“Our proposals will not only create a much larger employment space, providing space for over 1,300 jobs through the increased retail and office spaces, they will also bring new student bedrooms and increased residential units for the private rental market.
“Our scheme has been carefully developed following discussions with the neighbouring site’s planning team and Brighton and Hove City Council to ensure that both sites are cohesive, work alongside each other to the benefit of the area and fulfil the London Road Master Plan.
“There is a significant need to provide high-quality commercial space within the city for businesses as they grow.
“There is a high demand from new businesses for commercial spaces in Vantage Point and an extended and improved site will therefore enable businesses to remain in the city, within the same building, with improved facilities.”
I worked on the 7th floor of this building back in the 1970s when it was called Circus House. It was pretty grim then with draughty sash windows, poor facilities and unreliable heating. The shops in Circus Parade went through a rough patch with short occupancy and the whole area looked run down, not helped by the wind tunnel effect fron the car park into the square and hardly any sun getting into the square. It’s all been prettied up, but still doesn’t do much for the looks of the area, so maybe it’s time to redevelop. However, do we really need yet more student flats? Or are they a guaranteed money spinner nowadays?
How can Vantage Point be called a “landmark”? It is hideous. Awful memories of Brighton Library being bundled into it for ages (which led to good books being ditched). Oddly, there was a good Indian restaurant in that forlorn stretch of shops beneath it.
Agree. ‘Landmark’ is not an appropriate term. ‘Vantage Point’ is a strange choice too considering it’s in a valley.
Just knock it down already. Anything would be an improvement.
Also agree it’s not the best place for student homes, better suited to commuter housing I would have thought, but the council in its wisdom doesn’t want more students living near the universities in Moulescombe and Bevendean where the land values are more affordable. It would rather force them into more expensive areas further away from where they want to be.
It’s the residents who don’t want any more students in Moulsecombe and Bevendean. BTW, the council doesn’t build student accommodation so your point about land values is irrelevant.
More student homes when there is a huge housing crisis in Brighton…..
It’s even become increasingly more difficult for people to privately rent as most landlords / agencies, if not all want student.
Greed! Sort it out!
If they create student homes in this development that might hopefully reduce the number of, and pressure for houses of multiple occupation in residential areas all around Brighton. These student houses have reduced the amount of family accommodation and forced up rents on family homes. They have increased parking pressure and led to at least three Brighton schools having falling rolls leading to loss of teachers etc and even possible closure (Hertford, Coledean and Bevendean Primaries). So it’s not reasonable to knock that aspect of the development.