Residents "up in arms" as school unveils plans for two new developments

Brighton College has announced plans for the expansion of its campus. The independent school is currently appealing the refusal of its plans to knock through three houses in Walpole Road and create a 27-bed boarding house. Robert Brown, Liberal Democrat spokesman for the Kemp Town ward, said residents are worried about the expansion of the school's campus He said: “People are concerned they’re going to keep buying up houses and turning them into boarding houses which reduces the housing stock in the area.

” The map indicates the two sites which the school is proposing to develop (Image: Brighton College) Now, the school has revealed two new proposals for boarding houses on land they already own. Firstly, the school is proposing to knock down the school’s existing pre-prep school at St Mary’s Hall, just east of the hospital, and build a new four-storey building which would accommodate children from nursery to year six. Secondly, the former convent in Walpole Road, which currently houses the college’s preparatory school, would be converted into a boarding house, with capacity for 150 children aged 13-18 and boarding staff.



On their website, the school has said that the proposals will reduce the need for the school to buy and convert houses into accommodation and that removing younger children from the residential area will reduce drop-off congestion and noise. At a consultation held on Friday October 25, the school informed residents that they hope to decrease traffic by increasing the number of boarding pupils and reducing day school pupils. The school is proposing to build a boarding house on the former convent site (Image: krft) Robert said: “It wasn’t a consultation, it was an exhibition.

I expect there to be the opportunity for residents to ask questions but instead they were going round trying to find out why people were there. “Some of the things they said made sense but there is feeling that the additional work will make it extremely hazardous to live, drive and work around here. People are worried about losing their view and ending up with more building works.

The height of the buildings means people will lose sunlight.” Brighton College was contacted for a comment..