Preston Barracks redevelopment

Stuart Munday · Jul 17, 2014

The University of Brighton and developers Cathedral Group (Holdings) Ltd have exchanged contracts with Brighton and Hove City Council for the purchase and £150m redevelopment of the former Preston Barracks site in Lewes Road, Brighton.

Part of the development includes building on both the Mithras House and Watts car parks, so could have an impact on the clubs park and ride in the future.

Notters · Jul 17, 2014

Surely they will still need car parks, probably bigger car parks?

Have you got any more details? Is it just a University development or will there be private housing? Think expanding the universities still further without more private housing could be disastrous.

S'hampton Seagull · Jul 17, 2014

It will be interesting to see how the Mithras CP will be affected by the Barracks development as it's on the opposite side of the road.

Stuart Munday · Jul 17, 2014

Notters said:
Surely they will still need car parks, probably bigger car parks?

Have you got any more details? Is it just a University development or will there be private housing? Think expanding the universities still further without more private housing could be disastrous.

The £150million redevelopment of a former barracks has moved a step closer after the site was sold to developers.

Preston Barracks, in Lewes Road, Brighton, is set to be transformed into a retail, employment and academic centre with 350 new homes.

There will also feature a business centre supporting cutting-edge firms along with student accommodation for 1,300.

The project, which has been years in the making, has moved a step closer this week after Brighton and Hove City Council exchanged contracts with the University of Brighton and developers Cathedral Group.

It comes after the Government’s announcement on July 7 that it intends injecting £7.7m into the development as part of a £17.4m investment in University of Brighton research and buildings.

Development bosses say the agreement now means they can work on plans in more details before planning permission is sought.

Professor Julian Crampton, vice-chancellor of the University of Brighton, said: “We have worked closely with the City Council and Cathedral Group to create a comprehensive plan. “The development incorporates a range of uses from residential accommodation and student residences, to space for a new university academic building and innovation space for the university and business to work closely together.”

The plan will see the development of the disused barracks along with land owned by the university next door, the car park of the Watts building, and the Mithras House car park.

At the Preston Barracks site there will be 350 houses, 20% of which are affordable, 500 student bedrooms, a university research laboratory and a health centre. The Mithras House car park will feature 552 student bedrooms and a small retail area. Meanwhile the Watts Building car park will have 264 student bedrooms, further retail space and space for future academic expansion.

Notably there will also be a business incubation centre and cutting-edge facility that will support new hi-tech and design-led manufacturing start-up companies and entrepreneurs.

It is estimates the development will create 740 new jobs over a 10-year period.

Richard Upton, chief executive of Cathedral Group, said: “This is a major development project and will create a new gateway to the city from the north, further establishing the university at the centre of Brighton’s economic life.

“Work will now begin on site immediately to set the stage for the upcoming programme of spectacular events planned for the next two years.”

Jason Kitcat, leader of the council, said the site had “huge potential”.

He added: “The development will deliver hundreds of good homes, while the student accommodation will ease pressures on family homes. Hundreds of jobs will be created and we will radically improve the appearance of this key gateway to the city while supporting Brighton University’s future success.”

The barracks was built in 1793 amid fears Napoleon might invade England.

But, after a period of decline, it has sat empty for more than 20 years.

Mannie · Jul 17, 2014

Its probably a good idea and reasonable regeneration - although they seem to be saying that they will build on the car parks…..

Badger · Jul 17, 2014

They could do with rebuilding that retail park too, B&Q is alright but the others are a bit naff and need a lot of updating.

Lord Bracknell · Jul 17, 2014

I work at the Preston Barracks site and have been following the saga of the plans for redevelopment for years. An early scheme collapsed, because of lack of finance, but this one looks much more likely to succeed. There are still a number of processes to be gone through, including the submission of a planning application and a possible public inquiry, so it will be a few years before building actually starts.

As I understand it, the major thrust of the scheme is to allow Brighton University to grow and to ensure that more student housing is available to cope. When the project is completed, there will undoubtedly be less car parking available in the area - so, yes, this will be an issue for the football club.

surrey jim · Dec 16, 2014

Looks like building work will start soon. The site has this week had hoardings put up around the perimiter fence. Are there any plans online as to how the final site will look?

Stuart Munday · Dec 16, 2014

The hoardings have gone up but as far as I know no plans have been submitted although Im sure they exist somewhere, perhaps they are going to start clearing the site which would take some time.

daveinprague · Dec 16, 2014

Whats the actual history of Preston barracks? Im sure I read years ago, some account of an IRA bloke being held and interrogated there, but not by the military?

Hugo Rune · Dec 16, 2014

Lord Bracknell said:
As I understand it, the major thrust of the scheme is to allow Brighton University to grow and to ensure that more student housing is available to cope. When the project is completed, there will undoubtedly be less car parking available in the area - so, yes, this will be an issue for the football club.

I understand that net car parking spaces will not decrease remaining fixed at 670 with a multi-story (possibly subterranean) allocated for Watts car park. The buildings to the north of the barracks will remain (for refurbishment) with everything else to be demolished.

Drumstick · Dec 16, 2014

I remember seeing some plans for this years back with one option to build a link bridge type offering over the Lewes Road.

Seasidesage · Dec 16, 2014

The Green's might be advised to consider the abortion that is Lewes Road before adding all that housing to the mix even if a big proportion of it is student accom.

pb21 · Dec 16, 2014

Seasidesage said:
The Green's might be advised to consider the abortion that is Lewes Road before adding all that housing to the mix even if a big proportion of it is student accom.

Did you mean abomination?

Lord Bracknell · Dec 16, 2014

Stuart Munday said:
The hoardings have gone up but as far as I know no plans have been submitted although Im sure they exist somewhere, perhaps they are going to start clearing the site which would take some time.

As far as I am aware, there's not yet been a planning application submitted. The Cathedral Group (who are the partners of Brighton University in promoting the development) have taken over ownership of the site from the City Council - although the existing businesses that continue to operate from the site remain tenants of the Council.

Hugo Rune · Dec 16, 2014

Many young families can't afford housing in Brighton because both Universities are about 5000 rooms combined short in their halls of residence offer. Together with the Uni of Sussex plans when complete, there should be a huge reduction in the Studentification of areas such as Hanover and Moulsecoomb as well as a lowering of rents due to HMOs being converted back to family homes. Greedy landlords may suffer but the rest of Brighton will benefit hugely.

Seasidesage · Dec 16, 2014

pb21 said:
Did you mean abomination?

No I meant abortion, but call it what you like, its a complete **** up whichever way you look at it and adding another few hundred car journeys aint gonna help! :lolol:

surrey jim · Sep 28, 2017

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/1556...project_to_Brighton_approved/#comments-anchor

THE £300 million transformation of a Georgian barracks site is set to go ahead after developers were given planning permission.

The University of Brighton proposal was unanimously approved by Brighton and Hove City Council’s planning committee yesterday.

Developers U+I will carry out the work to regenerate Preston Barracks in Lewes Road and the university’s Moulsecoomb campus.

The regeneration of Preston Barracks is predicted to generate £500 million for the city economy and create around 1,500 jobs, according to the university’s vice chancellor Debra Humphris.

Plans for the site, which has been derelict for 20 years, include building 369 homes, 1,338 student bedrooms and a new home for the university’s business school before 2021.

Professor Humphris said: “The university has been part of the city for 150 years.

“This development will go a considerable way to reducing pressure on local housing and reduce the need for cars and travel.

“We are committed to improving sustainability. It will provide a stunning new gateway into the city.”

The designs have undergone months of public consultation resulting in a number of objections. Among them are questions over the project’s viability, air pollution created by increased car parking and traffic, transport and congestion, lack of affordable housing and the effect it will have on Saunders Park View and Coombe Road residents.

During the meeting yesterday, Rebecca Barkaway, a member of the Coombe Road Area Local Action Team, said: “We are being transformed into the university’s campus.

“In an area that is already overwhelmed by a student community this just seems a step too far.

“We want to see investment in local provisions.

“We believe the 369 non-student houses should have a covenant placed on them so they don’t become HMOs.

“We also want to see money spent on improving the Saunders Park area.”

Environmental campaign group Brighton and Hove Friends of the Earth (BHFOE) objected to the proposed increase in parking across the development.
The group argued it would lead to increased traffic and air pollution. The group claimed that if built the development would keep air pollution levels above the legal limit.

More than 400 responses were received supporting the development before the meeting.

The original proposal was revised to include 19 additional homes, a reduction in the height of certain buildings, additional community facilities and a transport plan.

A new pedestrian bridge across Lewes Road will be built as well as new squares and crossings which are designed to improve pedestrian access.

Cycle docks and more than 1,000 cycle parking spaces are included in the plans, as well as 30 spaces for bicycles used as part of the city’s new bike hire scheme.

In March, the Sussex Police and Crime Commissioner requested more money to cover the cost of more officers and staff set up costs, investment in IT operations, additional vehicles and the cost of supporting additional officers, as a result of the proposed development.
Andy Taylor, who represented the commissioner at the meeting, repeated the submission for £217,336 to fund the cost of extra policing to accompany the development.

The planning committee agreed not to support the request for more money to fund extra policing.

Richard Upton, deputy chief executive of U+I, said: “This is a major milestone for the Preston Barracks project, one of the largest and most ambitious regeneration projects to have been brought forward in Brighton for a number of years.
"We have the opportunity to transform this area of Brighton, which has been derelict for 20 years and deliver a huge number of benefits to the local community and the wider city.

“Our Circus Street project is also moving forward at great pace, regenerating another important part of the city.

"We will deliver world class, imaginative urban design on each project, building on the bohemian audacity of the Prince Regent and leaving a lasting legacy that befits such an inspirational city.”

Wrong-Direction · Sep 28, 2017

Living 2 mins from it, it's gonna cause absolute chaos on the roads!

Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk

surrey jim · Sep 28, 2017

Wrong-Direction said:
Living 2 mins from it, it's gonna cause absolute chaos on the roads!

Sent from my SM-A310F using Tapatalk

You missed reading part of it then, the 1338 students will be able to use the City bike scheme. Hope they don't mind a wait!

30 spaces for bicycles used as part of the city’s new bike hire scheme.

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