4 days Ago
Plans have been submitted to build 36 new affordable flats. The proposal, submitted on behalf of Brighton and Hove City Council, aims to develop two residential blocks north of Swanborough Drive in Whitehawk, Brighton. The new blocks will also include a community space and a landscaped public frontage.
The site, at the northern edge of the Whitehawk estate, was previously a playground, later transformed into a bee bank, but is now mostly overgrown. The development would fill in this brownfield gap in the streetscene (Image: Google) The development will offer a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom flats, all available for affordable rent. A community space will also be incorporated into the development, following feedback from residents and stakeholders.
READ NEXT: Seafront restaurant allowed to keep beach huts permanently This area is designed to be flexible and can be used for various purposes, such as a café, pop-up events, community group meetings and outreach health and wellbeing events. The public realm in front of the development will be enhanced with street lighting, seating, a bus shelter, trees and the potential for a community café to make it more comfortable for residents and visitors. The 36 flats would be split between two blocks (Image: Mackellar Schwerdt Architects) The architectural and landscaping improvements are also aimed at making the area more attractive.
The development will incorporate several environmental features to reduce the building’s carbon footprint and make it more comfortable and affordable for residents. These include a rainwater attenuation system, a green roof and a heating and cooling strategy. The development would have lots of communal spaces (Image: Mackellar Schwerdt Architects) The proposal sets out a range of private and public spaces.
Communal spaces are accommodated at lower levels, while private accommodation is allocated to the upper floors. READ NEXT: Plans submitted for new live music and theatre venue with drinking establishment The outdoor spaces in front of the proposed building are designed for all members of the public, while the indoor community space provides a versatile area for community-led events and services. Private flats are equipped with balconies for private outdoor spaces, designed to provide residents with good views of the surrounding countryside and the sea while preserving privacy.
Each flat would have its own balcony (Image: Mackellar Schwerdt Architects) The community space is designed to provide a base for local groups, including a kitchen area with a servery into the main hall for potential use as a community café or for hosting events. The proposed development aims to improve the Whitehawk area by presenting a fuller street frontage between Linchmere and Swanborough House. The application can be viewed using the reference BH2025/00532.
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