Hove Civic Society January 2019 Newsletter Chairman’s Letter

Dear Members, much weight to one policy of the plan. In their justifiable anxiety to generate more affordable homes it can be A Happy and Joyous New Year to all of you. argued that the council lost sight of a key strategic Towards the end of last year we had the opportunity to element of the City Plan namely to progress the plans for attend the appeal hearing for 1-3 Ellen Street, known as the eight development areas – the areas which are meant Hove Gardens. Most of the day was spent on discussing to deliver the bulk of new housing for the city up to 2030. contrasting valuation figures, much of the argument In this case the proposal offered an excellent design with hanging on the starting value of the site and the eventual a scheme by a highly regarded local architect and a local sales figures that might be achievable on the sale of flats developer with a keen interest in the local community. once they are built. The appellant, Matsim, consistently The appeal case not only demonstrates the difficulties argued that for the location, the district valuer had used of accurately valuing a proposed development, where comparison figures from more attractive locations and variables such as building costs, labour rates and future hence set too high values for what was achievable in sales proceeds can vary substantially over the time it Hove Gardens. The overall valuation would determine the takes to complete a building. It also shows the futility of amount of affordable homes that could be accommodated putting too much emphasis on the provision of affordable on site. The council’s policy is a target of 40%, the district homes through the development process. Futile in the valuers’ service suggested 25% were achievable, the sense that ‘affordable’ in this planning process means appellant felt able to offer 18%. The difference between 80% of the market rate, which in Brighton and Hove is them when the application was determined amounted almost meaningless and unaffordable for most people. to 11 flats of the over 180 units. The lack of affordable In the process we all are loosing out on much needed housing had been the sole reason for refusal of planning physical improvements to our City. permission by the council and the counsel for Matsim convincingly argued that the council had not applied Whilst the Council’s affordable housing policy is no doubt policy CP20 of the City Plan correctly in that the five tests designed with the best of intentions and is indeed guided of the policy had not been followed. Broadly speaking this by government policy, it is largely ineffective in providing meant that the advantages of the development (enabling really affordable housing and can have unintended redevelopment in an environmentally deprived area, consequences in terms of deferred investment or reduced providing major environmental improvements etc) had quality of developments. Really affordable homes are not been balanced against the somewhat lower figure of desperately needed and this would be better dealt with affordable homes achieved. by social policy at a national level. I increasingly doubt whether the planning system and contributions by As members will remember this was indeed one of the developers is the right vehicle to deal with the issue of key arguments by the Society in support of the appeal. affordable homes. In making their decision the Council had drawn an With very best wishes unnecessary red line and, in my opinion, given far too Helmut Lusser

Hove Gardens, 1-3 Ellen Street – The proposal subject to appeal Thousands welcome suffragette statue by Brighton sculptor Hazel Reeves

On the 14th of December some 5,000 people gathered in St Peter’s Square in Manchester to celebrate the Mothers and babies gathered round Our Emmeline unveiling of a new statue of the suffragette marking exactly 100 years since women first voted in General Election. The statue was created by award-winning sculptor Hazel Reeves, who we are very proud to have as our very own sculpture advisor for Hove Plinth. The story of Emmeline Pankhurst and how the sculpture was created can be seen in the video Our Emmeline. Manchester City Council had pulled out all the stops to make this a wonderful civic occasion. Colourful marches had been organised by Emmeline Pankhurst’s great grand daughter, Helen Pankhurst, including around one thousand school children and many women in period costumes. We were privileged to attend and what an amazing day it was. There was music and speeches and Manchester Community Choir singing a specially commissioned Pankhurst Anthem. What a wonderful way of celebrating the centenary of votes for women

such as Emmeline and , , , Mary Naylor, Ada Wright, Lady Constance Lytton, Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence, Vera Wentworth, Emily Wilding Davison and Mary Clarke. We wish the Mary Clarke statue appeal all success and hope that we will soon see a statue by Hazel Reeves in her home city. Karin Janzon BLUE PLAQUES On July 24, 2018 a commemorative stone was unveiled at the Old Steine War Memorial in honour of Major Edward “Mick” Mannock. He became a pilot with the Royal Flying Corps, served as Flight Commander in 40 Squadron and Major in command of 85 Squadron in World War One. He crashed behind enemy lines at the very end of the war and was awarded a VC posthumously. ‘Our Emmeline’ unveiled, with Hazel Reeves (left), “Mick” was born at Preston Barracks, Brighton. Because Cllr Andrew Simcock and Helen Pankhurst the site is due for demolition, the decision has been made to instal a Blue Plaque when the new buildings are Hazel Reeves is moving onto new and exciting projects, completed. including celebrating the life of suffragette Mary Clarke, Such a huge variety of people are commemorated with Emmeline Pankhurst’s sister. She was the Women’s Blue Plaques in Brighton & Hove, and the unveiling on Social and Political Union organiser in Brighton before 7 September 2018 at 9 Chesham Street was for Prince her untimely death in 1910, almost certainly as the result Petr Alexeyevich Kropotkin. Known as the anarchist of police violence and forcible feeding in prison. The prince, he spent 30 years in exile in London and Mary Clarke Statue Appeal is working with the Brighton Brighton. Born a Russian Prince in 1842, he was trained and Hove Women’s History Group to campaign and for the Tsar’s court but decided to become a scientist fundraise for the bronze statue. As part of its campaign after reading Darwin’s “The origin of the Species”. He developed an interest in socialism, spreading for recognition for local suffragists and suffragettes the revolutionary propaganda among workers in Moscow Women’s History Group already successfully campaigned and St Petersburg. He was arrested but escaped to for a Blue Plaque for suffragette Minnie Turner, which London and Brighton before returning to Russia in was unveiled at 13 Victoria Road, Brighton on the 1917. His notable work, “Mutual Aid”, published in 1902, 18th November. Minnie Turner ran a boarding house developed a theory that society could be organised “Seaview” at this address both as a holiday destination by individuals working together in co-operation. It’s and as a refuge for suffragettes recovering from interesting that he lived in Chesham Street from 1911 to imprisonment, hunger strikes and force feeding. Minnie 1917, in view of Brighton’s long tradition of radicalism. Turner’s guests included many well known campaigners Elaine Evans The new Hove Station Quarter – A plan by the Neighbourhood Forum

a high standard of planting and a number of community hubs to improve existing facilities and create new ones for residents and workers alike. The Forum has spent considerable time preparing suggestions for how the area could be substantially improved with the railway station as a focus. Key concerns have been how to manage the demand for parking and additional traffic in the area as well as how to ensure a broad variety of housing in the area including truly affordable units. The Neighbourhood Plan is made up of two parts. Part One is the statutory part, whereas Part Two sets out aspirations of the Forum, which cannot be included in the statutory part. The Plan, once adopted, will sit alongside Area covered by the Hove Station Neighbourhood Plan the City Plan and its policies will be used to determine By the time you read this the public consultation on the planning applications in the area. To reach that stage Hove Station Neighbourhood Plan will be underway. The there will be two consultations, an external inspector’s plan is produced by the Hove Station Neighbourhood examination followed by a referendum, all in 2019. Forum, focuses on the area around Hove Station and The Forum believes that the Plan represents the art of extends broadly from the Drive in the East to School the possible in terms of influencing local development Road in the West, including a major part of Poets Corner. in a way that meets both city wide and local needs and To the north it extends up to Old Shoreham road at the provides a substantial upgrading of the local environment eastern end to then follow the railway line. In the south it in the process. Your Committee has supported the work goes as far as Clarendon Villas and then follows Portland of the Forum over time and would encourage you to look Road. The Map above shows the exact boundaries. The at the plan at the consultation stage as well as voting in plan proposes the creation of a new Hove Station Quarter the referendum if you live within the neighbourhood area. with major redevelopment North and South of the railway to form a unified, high quality mixed residential and The details of the consultation and links to the full plan commercial area. The Forum has identified opportunities documents are available from the website of the Forum: for development that substantially exceeds that set out http://www.hovestationforum.co.uk/ in the City Plan and proposes a framework to provide a Helmut Lusser high quality environment with pedestrian and cycle links,

An extract from Part Two of the Hove Station Neighbourhood Plan. Hove Stories: On the Seafront Hove Stories: On the Seafront

All kindskinds of of people people spend spend time ontime Hove on seafront Hove seafront – relaxing, – watching relaxing, the wat marathon,ching thesitting in their cars, eating ice cream, etc. They come in groups or on their own, but it’s always a marathon,sociable place. sitting in their cars, eating ice cream, etc. They come in groups or on their own, but it’s always a sociable place Celia Britton Celia Britton

Planning Update

Several big planning applications have come forward completed ‘Artisan’ development and the existing ‘P&H’ since the last HCS newsletter. We have been considering buildings. The site already has planning permission for a the detail of these in collaboration with the Regency mainly residential development, but we have commented Society, where we analyse the most significant cases on the revised scheme now submitted, calling for a design across the city in a monthly “Planning Forum”. re-think to reduce the awkwardness and bulk of the block which is now being proposed. Recent cases where we’ve submitted comments to the City Council include: Other big cases which are now “live” but where we are still working on comments to the Council include: - The synagogue site in New Church Road, where we have called for an improved layout for the proposed - The KAP site in Newtown Road, for a development of scheme, to reduce the bulkiness of the buildings in the 148 dwellings plus offices. central part of the site. - The Sackville Trading Estate site, for a mixed - The site in Davigdor Road between the nearly- development of 600 dwellings and a care facility (265 units) plus offices, retail and community facilities. - Toad’s Hole Valley, where there is now an outline application for major development over this very large (40 hectare) site. Information about these and the other cases we’ve been looking at can be viewed on the HCS website. Ahead of formal applications being submitted by developers, we have continued to take part in consultative meetings about potential development, to use the opportunity to influence the way in which new schemes are eventually drawn up. The most recent example is the very large scheme currently being worked up for further expansion in the south-west quarter of Brighton Marina (the ‘outer An axonometric view of the harbour’). Sackville Trading Estate proposal by MODA Bob Ryder A plastic free Brighton and Hove One year ago I started the Plastic Free Brighton and cupboard stock: Harriet’s of Hove, Down to Earth in Hove, Hove campaign on Facebook and Instagram after feeling Waste Not, Hisbe. powerless about the scale of the global plastic pollution 2. Buy a weekly fruit & veg box from a local organic problem. Twelve years ago I volunteered in Madagascar producer like Barcombe or Hankham. on a marine conservation project. The remote beaches were covered in plastic, prompting us to clean them, but 3. Use cloth bags for shopping what were we to do with it all once we’d cleaned it up? Litter gets burnt there causing climate change. I’ve also 4...... a reusable water bottle been on scuba diving reef clean ups in the Red Sea and 5...... reusable coffee cup cleaned ancient temple floors in Laos! 6. Eat at home, don’t buy take aways When I came home *refusing and reducing* seemed the only way forward, so I gave up plastic for lent. It was 7.Take a packed lunch in a reusable container or really quite a challenge, but by shopping in different beeswax wrap places, my diet improved and I spent less. Nowadays I 8. Say no to single use plastic cutlery, straws and do a #2minutebeachclean everytime go to the beach and packaging helped coordinate the last Pier to Pier Silent Disco Beach Clean. It didn’t seem enough, what else could I do to 9. Skip plastic produce bags help? 10. If it’s in plastic do you really need it? Can you I decided to start local. Inspire my friends, family and substitute, go without or buy it elsewhere? neighbours via social media with top tips on how to This year I want to create a beautiful community sculpture become plastic free. to inspire action, that really gets the message across to Here are a few, but follow the campaign on Facebook and people who live, visit and work here to become plastic Instagram for more: free. If you’d like to be involved please do get in touch: 1. Buy from local refill shops for pantry and cleaning Kelly Dibbert, [email protected] Flight of the Langoustine starts to take shape

While we are all enjoying the presence of Constellation The next sculpture for Hove Plinth is now beginning Membership issues to take shape in the Brighton sculptor Pierre Diamantopoulo’s studio. We are still operating without a membership secretary The process and techniques for making a bronze and would welcome any help on this matter, not least sculpture goes back to ancient times so are well tried and in allowing us to provide a more personal approach to tested. Yet, the complexity is mind blowing and some of members. the stages are frankly baffling to an outsider. It starts with In the meantime – thank you to all of you who the creation of an armature, a sort of skeleton, on which have switched to standing orders – it eases our the figure is then sculpted with clay or other modelling admin burden substantially. Can I also remind material. This is a painstaking and time-consuming those members who have not yet paid their 2019 process which requires huge attention to detail. Pierre membership to do so – again preferable by Standing needs 15 weeks for each of his life-size figures to get to Order. The membership form can be downloaded the stage where a mould can be taken, which then forms from this link: http://www.hovecivicsociety.org/get- the basis for bronze casting in the foundry through the involved ‘lost wax process’. I confess I have yet to get my head fully around how the lost wax process works but hope that We moved to free lectures last autumn and can all will be revealed when Pierre comes to give a talk about now apply for gift aid for your membership fee – this the production of his sculpture on the 21st of March as provides a welcome addition to our income and allows part of the HCS spring lecture programme (Note the date us to continue our lectures and newsletter in spite of now!) increased costs – provided members complete a gift aid form – so please help us with this. You can use the form referred to above. Can I remind members of our new membership structure, which now includes Friends of the Hove Plinth (£50 per annum) and a Supporter of Sculpture in the City (£125 per annum). These memberships will help us to bring new sculpture to the city. Finally a big thank you to all members for your continued support and especially our Street Tree Angels – almost 100 street trees planted so far thanks to those generous contributions of £250 per year. Please remember to Gift aid your membership contribution

We have agreed to pay Pierre Diamantopoulo incrementally for his work and that of the foundry and The beginning of the sculpture: armatures of figures for Flight steel fabricator as funds are raised, so this will determine of the Langoustine the pace of progress. Our starting fund has been boosted by a grant from the Headley Trust and a donation from Hove Business Association, but there is still a long way to go so if you can help in any way please get in touch. We will keep you abreast of news on the sculpture and fundraising initiatives through emails, our mail chimp newsletters, and a special page on Hove Plinth website. We are delighted to now have the help of an experienced fund raiser, Liz Ganney, who will be assisting us with the fund raising strategy. We look forward to an exciting year and will be in touch about ways in which you can support Hove Plinth and the development of Flight of the Langoustine. Karin Janzon, Project Director Hove Plinth [email protected]

The production of Flight of the Langoustine will take well over a year. A preliminary target date for installation is spring/ summer 2020 but this is dependent on how soon we can raise the money required for the different stages of production: Winter HCS Lecture Programme All lectures will take place in the Courtlands Hotel and begin at 7pm.

24th January 2019 21st February 2019

The Roman influence - local settlements Hove’s Pioneer Film-makers between the Downs and the city Dr Frank Gray by Trevor Povey

21st March 2019 25th April 2019

Creating the second sculpture for Hove Annual Forum Plinth Our Annual Forum looking at major new an illustrated talk by Pierre Diamantopoulo, Sculptor developments in Hove.

The front page of our newsletter is made up of images that show some of the late Victorian heritage in Hove. David Kemp, of DK Architects has created the page. Framed versions are available for sale in different sizes.

Keep in touch... Printed by:

Join our mailing list: [email protected] The Printhouse, Visit our website: www.hovecivicsociety.org 26-28 St John s Road Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ Hove, East Sussex hovecivicsociety BN3 2FB Follow us on Twitter: @LoveHove Tel: 01273 325667