Work begins on Circus Street dance centre

Construction has begun on a dance space which is part of a £130 million project to redevelop an old fruit and veg market in Brighton.
By The Newsroom
Published 19th Apr 2018, 12:22 BST
Updated 8th Jun 2018, 05:43 BST
Cllr Warren Morgan and Judith Hibberd from South East Dance put the first spade in the ground, marking the start of construction for The Dance SpaceCllr Warren Morgan and Judith Hibberd from South East Dance put the first spade in the ground, marking the start of construction for The Dance Space
Cllr Warren Morgan and Judith Hibberd from South East Dance put the first spade in the ground, marking the start of construction for The Dance Space

Council leader Warren Morgan and Judith Hibberd from South East Dance put the first spade in the ground, marking the start of construction for The Dance Space, which will be home to South East Dance, a leading arts organisation and charity.

The Circus Street scheme is set to turn the old market into a 'thriving new quarter and cultural destination for the city', developers say, and is set to be complete by autumn 2019.

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The development will include 142 new homes, 450 student bedrooms, 30,000 sq ft of new office space plus workshops offering creative businesses start up accommodation and room to grow.

As well as the start of construction on The Dance Space, there was also a ‘topping out’ ceremony held by U+I, Brighton and Hove City Council and global education provider Kaplan, at the highest building of the Circus Street development.

Richard Upton, deputy chief executive of developer U+I, said: “This is a major milestone for our Circus Street regeneration project and for Brighton at large. Together with our partners we are bringing Circus Street back to life, creating a vibrant new destination which will bring substantial cultural and socio-economic benefits to the wonderful city of Brighton and Hove, injecting £200 million into the local economy over the next decade.”

Council leader Warren Morgan said: “It is fantastic to see such great progress on a project which will bring new homes, jobs and community and cultural facilities to the city centre. Circus Street and Preston Barracks are superb examples of public private partnerships bringing long derelict areas of land back to productive use for local people.”

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Linda Cowan, MD of Kaplan International Pathways, said: “The impressive living space in this new development will give our University of Brighton International College a huge advantage in attracting the top students from around the world to study at the college in preparation for entry to the University of Brighton."

Jamie Watton, CEO of South East Dance, said, “We can’t wait to move into the new Dance Space next year – this is the start of our exciting future, helping to bring dance to everyone in the city and the wider region.”

Related stories:

Work begins on 'new cultural quarter' for Brighton

First apprentice joins builders at Circus Street development

Related topics:WorkBrighton