Brighton office and student block set to be turned down

An artist's impression of part of the proposed Enterprise Point block by Architecture PLB

Developer Vita wants to knock down the building in Melbourne Street to build the office space, student accommodation and 24 flats.

Councillors are recommended to refuse planning permission for as the site as there is not enough non-student housing.

It is listed in the City Plan as a mixed use site for employment and approximately 80 homes.

A report going before the planning committee on Wednesday April 3 said daylight was also poor and would impact on future occupants as well as neighbours.

Enterprise Point was previously home to the popular Access to Music music college, which closed in the summer of 2016.

Neighbours have sent 49 objections saying there is too much student housing in the area and not enough affordable homes.

One Melbourne Street resident, whose name was reredacted on the council’s online planning portal, wrote: “The street is already densely populated by HMO (House in multiple occupation) properties.

“Adding another 400+ new students to this narrow one way street will cause considerable noise disturbances from extra footfall.”

They described the development as making life unbearable for working residents while turning Melbourne Street into a “glorified entrance for a student metropolis”.

A Hartingdon Road resident, whose name was also redacted, wrote: “Melbourne Street is simply too small a thoroughfare to cope with all these extra residents coming and going (also months of construction).

“It will add to the huge influx of students moving into the area. Affects infrastructure of public transport, refuse, and parking already stretched to capacity.”

A Shanklin Road resident, whose name was also redacted, wrote: “I agree that the Enterprise Point area is needed regeneration, however, I object to these plans on the basis that have been put forward so far.

“Instead of developing the area with a community focus the current plans are alienating.”

The current three Hanover and Elm Grove councillors, Emma Daniel, David Gibson and Dick Page, have all written to the committee against the scheme.

In 2014 planning permission was granted to demolish part of the building and build extensions and further blocks for offices and homes.

The planning committee meets in public at Hove Town Hall from 2pm on Wednesday, April 3.