'Young people are moving to London because its cheaper than living here'

Young professionals are being forced to move to London because it's "cheaper" than living in Hove, an MP has claimed. In an exclusive interview with The Argus, Peter Kyle, Labour MP for Hove and Portslade, emphasised that he wants young people to “stay local if they want to” and that he is “pro-development”. “It's rare for me to oppose development,” the MP said.

“I see part of my job as steering development, developers and communities to come together to get the development that communities like. “People want us to be a city where young people can grow up, leave home, but stay local if they want to. “And increasingly we're a city where people leave homes and have to leave the area because they have to, because they can't afford to stay.



And that's not how it should be. “So, I've been quite a strident supporter of development, but it has to be of the right quality, and it has to be fitting for the community.” According to the Office of National Statistics private rents rose to an average of £1,799 in Brighton and Hove in February 2025, an annual increase of 5.

1 per cent from £1,712 in February 2024. In contrast with London, private rents rose to an average of £1,494 in Croydon and £1,604 in Bromley – both easily and quickly accessible to the capital via public transport. In a report published by the government in September 2024, on the labour market opportunities for young people, data showed that Brighton and Hove was deemed neither favourable nor unfavourable for opportunities.

Meanwhile, London and most of its surrounding boroughs were deemed favourable or most favourable. Artist's impression of the proposed tower on the site of the former Sackville Hotel. Peter explained that the need for development within the city was important, but not at the cost of green spaces or looking like a “monstrosity”.

He told The Argus: “I opposed the development of Sackville tower on the seafront, but I supported the one that came after." He added: “The community and developers came together and ended up with what I believe is a striking, but elegant building that we have now. “We as a community have to develop, we're developing socially and we have to develop physically as well, but the two need to be done sensitively and taking people with us, not antagonistically.

” In 2015, a 183 foot tall building of 107 flats was proposed for the corner of Sackville Gardens and Kingsway in Hove on the site of the old Sackville Hotel. The Hyde Group, which was behind the proposal, withdrew the application in 2016 after local residents and the council made their views against it known. Cllr Tom Bewick said at the time that "this is a victory for common sense".

Brighton and Hove City Council then approved plans for an eight-storey block of 60 homes in 2017 instead. Ten of the units are affordable – five affordable rented units and five shared-ownership units. Hove Gardens behind Hove train station (Image: Carey Jones Chapman Tolcher) In 2020, Watkin Jones got approval from the council to demolish the old warehouses in Ellen Street and replace them with 216 “build to rent” flats.

The scheme – known as Hove Gardens – also includes a community area and space for shops, offices or cafés. Neighbours and Goldsmid ward councillors praised Watkin Jones for the way it had engaged with the people locally. Mr Kyle shares a similar sentiment.

He praised Hove Gardens as a project that allowed people to live in “the best area in the country”. He said: “Hove Gardens are a benefit to our community simply because of the need for housing and the need for housing in such close proximity to the station. “The model of housing is great.

There is ownership, there's shared ownership, and there are hundreds of homes that will be for rentals. “The landlord designed, built and will remain the landlord there. And that will avoid so many of the problems that I'm helping residents with where developers just leave, and other people pick up the pieces for mistakes or design.

“It’s a benefit to our community in terms of affordability, accessibility, and allowing people to live in the best area in the country.”.