Masterplan for Hove site earmarked for hundreds of homes

The Conway Street area, near Hove railway station, could also be used to house dozens of businesses in brand new offices.

An official report said: “The overall built environment and public realm of the Conway Street area are uninspiring.

“And the under-utilised spaces and large areas of surface car parking provide significant transformational opportunities for a vibrant mixed-use high-density redevelopment in this inner urban area of Hove.”

The area, which includes the Brighton and Hove Buses depot, has been earmarked for a makeover for several years.

But various plans have fallen through, including an £80 million project known as Hove Gardens which was refused planning permission last year.

Matsim, the developer behind the Hove Gardens scheme, has appealed against the decision to turn down plans for 186 homes as well as shops and offices.

The outcome of the appeal could affect the masterplan being worked on by Brighton and Hove City Council, according to Labour councillor Julie Cattell, who chairs the council’s planning committee.

But on Thursday (November 22) her colleagues on the council’s tourism, development and culture committee approved a consultation on the masterplan.

The area is bounded by the railway line in the north, Ellen Street to the south and Ethel Street to the east.

A report said that many of the industrial buildings dated from when the site was redeveloped in the 1960s.

The area is made up of a mix of offices, warehouses and distribution centres along with the bus depot and offices and the Hove station car park.

Conservative councillor Mary Mears pressed for a full consultation process with tenants.

Planning projects manager Alan Buck said that tenants and leaseholders had already been contacted.

He said: “There will be meetings open to all. As this unfurls further there will be workshops.

“We have written to tenants and stakeholders and need to make sure the next meetings take place.”

The government has given the council a £70,000 grant towards the cost of producing the masterplan.

Input is expected from the Hove Station Neighbourhood Forum which has already out extensive consultations of its own.