In Spring 2022 Brighton and Hove City Council commissioned Planning for Real® to undertake a consultation into resident and stakeholder views about a proposal to build 35-39 Council homes in North Whitehawk on the site of the former play area on Swanborough Drive. We were asked to include the wider North Whitehawk area with the intention that the results would be shared with local organisations, notably Due East.

At the time, there were around 7,500 households on the Council’s housing register who had applied to rent a Council or Housing Association home. The number of households on the register was rising while fewer Council homes were becoming available to re-let. There was a great shortage of affordable homes and land available for new housing development, so BHCC had to make the best use of their land to build new homes for local residents where they could.  BHCC  were developing sites across Brighton and Hove and one of the sites identified was the former play area in Swanborough Drive proposed for 35-39 Council homes. After ceasing to be a play area, the site had been prepared and seeded with flowers and grasses typical of the surrounding chalk downland and had since become home to a variety of downland associated wildlife.

It was agreed that delivery of the Project would follow a typical Planning for Real® process which would include initial stakeholder workshop; creating the 3D model; raising awareness; consultation events; and follow up Workshop.

What we learnt from the Stakeholder Workshop

The following were identified as key elements for the proposed development:

• Design – so that people have pride; work to placemaking principles
• Integration – buildings to fit in with surroundings including orchard and allotments
• Sustainability – buildings to be cool in summer and warm in winter; incorporate new technology
• Environment / nature – an existing wildlife area which needs to be respected; greening of space; green roofs; central garden space; sensory planting; ensure no damage to orchard during construction.
• Buildings – height and size: Swanborough House, Lodsworth and Tillington are good examples of low rise blocks of flats; no overshadowing of orchard or existing buildings.
• Facilities – present lack of shops / schools / parks; development offers the opportunity for the provision of a meeting place / café / community room / community enterprise.
• Traffic issues – too many cars; lack of parking; opportunity for cycling infrastructure; and the need to maintain good public transport links.

What we learnt from residents through the consultation events:

Four consultation events, one of which was a Family Fun Day, were held from late August, through September and into early October. 508 separate issue and idea cards were placed onto the contoured 3D model and of these, 290 were development site and related matters (e.g. extra traffic on roads, existing parking problems).

Analysis and comparison by theme of the recorded issues and ideas showed a similar pattern for both the development site and the wider area with Housing coming out on top for both; followed by Community Facilities; then Environment;  Traffic and Transport.  Health and Wellbeing issues and ideas generated the lowest number of recorded cards but were important as they potentially could be achieved through the delivery of a community space / facility on the development site.

Vision and Design Workshop and Exhibition – 19^th October:

The format for the daytime Workshop included: sharing the results, creating a vision for North Whitehawk, prioritising the issues and ideas generated through the consultation and engagement activities, and translating these into a design brief.

Evening Exhibition drop-in session:

Those attending the evening drop-in were shown the outcomes of the morning session and were encouraged to discuss their ideas with the Architect and other Officers present.  Their comments were recorded and placed on the plan.

The latest position – news from BHCC …

Finalising design proposals

The design proposals have been developed with resident and stakeholder input as well as pre-planning application advice from Planning and Highways and other technical guidance.

The latest proposals are for a scheme of 36 new homes which include:

• a mix of 12 x 1-bedroom, 15 x 2-bedroom and 9 x 3-bedroom flats, to help those needing larger family homes as well as those wanting to downsize
• all new homes built to be easily adaptable and four designed to be fully wheelchair accessible from the start
• a community space on the ground floor with its own entrance, for use by community groups, with its own large kitchen area
• landscaping front and back with bio-solar green roofs to provide as much biodiversity on site as possible

The early consultation and Planning advice have helped shape the design proposals and ensure the proposed scheme meets the council’s requirements for new homes and protecting the environment.

The design work is now nearing completion in readiness for the planning application due to be submitted in late November 2024. The decision on this application is expected in April 2025.

Once approved we’ll seek to appoint a main contractor to build the new homes.  Before construction starts, there will be a period of preparation for the contractor.

The main construction period is expected to start in February 2026 and be completed in September 2027.

Handover of the new homes, ready to let, is expected in November 2027.

 

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