Revealed: Garden vision for Hove eyesore

The area to the south-west of Hove station could become a retail and business hub, with independent shops, rooftop bars, and affordable apartments.

That's if ambitious new plans by Matsim Properties are approved by planners. The scheme for the area between Conway Street and Ellen Street - renamed Hove Gardens by developers - will be unveiled next week.

The site is currently home to warehouses, including Furniture Village, but developers are keen to revitalise the area, and to act as a catalyst for the regeneration of surrounding sites - such as the bus depot.

The proposals for the site, aim to make it a more pleasant place for people to work, live, and play.

If you walk from Hove Railway Station, down the steps towards Conway Street today, you are greeted by warehouses and graffiti.

But under the new scheme, it could be transformed into Hove Gardens - an area boasting modern office and retail space, apartments, and even a pedestrianised zone.

Matsim Properties, the developer of the failed Hove Square scheme - which fell apart in 2012 - has come back with a new design for the space.

Simon Lambor of Matsim Properties said: 'A lot of thought has gone in to the design of this scheme to ensure that it complements and enables the future development of the surrounding sites and area in general. We hope that this initial scheme will act as a catalyst to the regeneration of the area providing desperately needed homes, employment space and much improved public realm.'

The plan, if approved, is for 178 apartments, 21,500 square ft of employment space, and 2,500 square ft of 'small flexible space' for start up and small businesses.

A large roof terrace on the fifth floor would be created for public use - with pop-up bars and a cinema.

A Section 106 payment - money paid to councils to reduce the impact of developments - would be 'used to improve the surrounding streetscape with the hope of Conway Street eventually being pedestrianised and the area having a pleasant village-type feel'.

A public exhibition will be held at the Clarendon Centre, on Saturday, November 21, from 11am to 3pm. Visit: www.hove-gardens.co.uk