12 news update Issue 2 | Dec 2011 | www.regencysociety.org The Regency Society of Brighton and Hove – registered charity no. 210194 Simon Jenkins is our new president The importance of the architectural heritage of Brighton and Hove has received a significant endorsement, with Sir Simon Jenkins – chairman of the National Trust – accepting the presidency of the Society. He takes up the position on 1 January 2012. “Brighton and Hove comprises the greatest monumental townscape in Britain,” he says. “It is precious and constantly in need of defenders.” Sir Simon, who says he is “delighted and honoured” by his new role, describes himself as “a sometime resident of Brighton” and replaces the Duke of Grafton, who died in April and was known in his younger days as the Duke of Preservation. He is an award-winning journalist and author, with regular columns in both the Guardian and the Evening Standard, who has previously edited both The Times and the Evening Standard. He has also been deputy chairman of English Heritage and a Millennium Commissioner. His books include England’s Thousand Best Churches, England’s Thousand Best Houses and this year’s A Short History of England. “Sir Simon is a perfect fit for the Regency Society,” says Society chair Mary McKean. “He is an active campaigner, a participant in lively debate on key issues in conservation and the built environment and a man who engages with current issues surrounding planning not as a Nimby but with a view to protecting all that is great about Britain.” Policy options for the city If you’re stumped for ideas for Christmas and know somebody with in an interest in Strategic issues facing Brighton and Hove were at the heart of the Regency’s Society’s comments to the city council in response to a consultation on four key architecture and local history, we have the areas of policy where significant changes are proposed. perfect gift that lasts an entire year: membership of the Regency Society. Your The consultation forms part of the development of a new City Plan, which, says gift membership will be delivered in a the council, “will provide the framework for future development ... up to the year seasonal card (below). Choose from £15 2030... It will also provide an imperative for delivering much-needed affordable for a single person or £25 for a couple at homes and for encouraging the most sustainable forms of development with the the same address. To buy, e-mail the highest quality of design.” membership secretary via the website or send a cheque and details to the address Consultation on the full version of the plan is scheduled to take place early in on the back page. 2012. “It is important to stress that the four policy areas covered by this consultation – housing delivery, student housing, park and ride and employment – will all sit within the context of the council’s wider vision for the city, which has not yet been published,” says Society chair Mary McKean. “At this early stage, we have therefore taken a holistic view. We look forward to commenting further and in greater detail.” Our main focus was on development principles, such as consideration of the existing townscape, the use of smaller brownfield sites and the appropriate use of increased housing density, inspired by historic high density housing within the city. We also highlighted aspects of proposed policies where we believe it is unclear that a case has been made, on the grounds that insufficient detail has been provided – for example, building housing in Toads Hole Valley, which has previously been deemed undesirable and unworkable. Finally, we supported proposed policies that would prevent the further agglomeration of student houses and other houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) and urged support for universities in providing purpose-built halls of residence, which would help to prevent further family homes becoming student dwellings. See our full comments on Page 2 and the policy documents on our website. 12 news The Society’s comments on City Policy options that there is proper consideration of the impact of development on existing infrastructure. • We would like to see plans that involve the use of the many smaller brownfield sites and smaller areas of underdevelopment that are scattered around Brighton and Hove, rather than an exclusive focus on plans for large, ambitious schemes and new, greenfield sites. • • We are concerned that housing density is given adequate consideration – including sensitive and appropriate use of increased density inspired by 19th and early 20th century, high density models within the city. • The plan should include forward planning for the replacement of existing housing stock. Areas where it is unclear that a case has been made (because of a lack of background information) Vision • The proposed policy for Toads Hole Valley would appear to We look forward to the publication of the council’s wider vision be at variance with the area’s low rating in the SHLAA – we for the city, which will give the context for these policy areas would like this clarified. and for the future of Brighton and Hove. It is clear that the • There does not seem to be evidence of practical proposals vision is now different to that embodied in the previous Core to deal with increased traffic in the absence of Park and Ride Strategy and we look forward to commenting further when that other than increasing charges. new vision is subjected to public consultation. • It is not clear how immediate and pressing issues (such as We trust that will be well before the draft City Plan is published. the length of the waiting list for social housing and the need for job creation in the short term) are to be addressed. Development principles • We would like to see a commitment to high quality design and consideration of townscape in all aspects of the city plan, • We support policies that would prevent further reflected in planning briefs. agglomerations of student dwellings and other HMOs. • We would also like to see evidence that the various elements • We would like to see policies that support the universities of the plan are being integrated – for example, that transport providing halls of residence, which would help to prevent proposals are linked effectively with land use proposals – and further family homes becoming student dwellings. O what a sight… The Brighton Wheel, also known as the Brighton O and, most recently, as the Wheel of Excellence, opened for business in October – and the name is not the only alteration to its approved specification. The one in place is not the 45-metre skeleton wheel described in the original planning application (the Brighton O) but a chunkier version, which has previously seen service in Paris and Cape Town and stands 50 metres above sea level at Dalton’s Bastion and the edge of the beach, off Madeira Drive in front of the Aquarium Terrace. The original lighting plan, which featured flashing lights and lighting on the struts, has also been modified after strong protests from local campaigners. Historic railings have been removed to make way for it and the Regency Society has been in touch with the council to make sure that they are being stored securely and in appropriate conditions, so they can be reinstated when the wheel, which has only temporary planning permission until May 2016, is removed. The operators, local company Paramount, must also take measures to reduce noise and improve public transport to the site. The £6 million wheel has 36 enclosed glass capsules, each of which can carry up to six adults and two children – when full, that translates into 288 people. The owners have scaled back proposed opening hours – originally every day of the year between 10am and midnight – to 10am to 11pm in peak season. 2 12 news The right facility – but in the wrong location Planning applications for the Royal Sussex County Hospital redevelopment – running to more than 5,000 pages – have been submitted to Brighton & Hove City Council and the Regency Society has submitted preliminary comments. We welcomed the benefits that new medical facilities will bring to the city and its environs but added, "The Society is not, however, without criticism of the proposed redevelopment and the attendant loss of the façade of the historic Barry Building. "In particular, the scale, form and mass of the proposed buildings represents an overdevelopment of the site, to which the Society would normally object, so this intensity of development should not be viewed as a precedent." The consultation period is still under way – you can see the applications and comment via our website, where you can also see our initial submission. The reference numbers for the applications are: The Barry Building pediment today, with the Royal Alexandra behind • Main application – BH2011/02886 • Listed building application (Bristol Gates) – BH2011/02887 • Listed building application (Chapel) – BH2011/02888 “The Regency Society has been following redevelopment closely from the start. We have had the opportunity to make suggestions for improvements which have been incorporated in the submitted design,” says chair Mary McKean. “While we regret that the hospital is to remain in its current inappropriate and cramped location, we accept that the decision was taken many years ago. We nevertheless applaud the consultation process that has led to the new proposal.” The proposed street frontage from the east, hopefully making the three tall spines of wards appear less overwhelming. Just glimpsed The schedule over the Victorian terrace is the helipad on top of the existing Thomas Kemp tower. The currently proposed timetable for the complete Royal Sussex Hospital development suggests: Winter 2011/2012 Formal consideration by the council.