Hove hotel could become homes once more

Planning permission to turn Hove’s empty Lansdowne Place Hotel into 45 homes has been granted today by the city council (August 6 2014).

Forty percent of the homes would be affordable – either for rent or shared ownership.  The hotel in Lansdowne Place has been empty since 2012.

Councillors on the planning committee today unanimously agreed they were ‘minded to grant’ permission subject to various conditions being met.  It would enable parts of the hotel to be demolished and alterations and extensions to be created – including a penthouse flat on the roof.  

The main building would be converted to flats.  Permission would also allow construction of five houses behind, facing onto a courtyard.  Space would be created by knocking down the old kitchen and ballroom buildings.

There would be car parking and secure cycle storage at lower ground floor level.

While not a listed building, the hotel stands in the Brunswick Town conservation area.

The developers have agreed to pay £116,000 to enhance local open spaces, £60,000 for education services and £25,000 towards local job creation.  They also undertook to use at least 25 per cent local labour for construction work.  Residents of the development would be given two years free membership of the City Car Club plus a travel pack encouraging use of sustainable transport.

Chair of the planning committee Cllr Phelim Mac Cafferty said:  “Prior to becoming what used to be known as the Dudley Hotel and latterly the Lansdowne Place Hotel, the main building was originally six townhouses.  

“So with a glance to the past and understanding that we have a sharp shortage of housing locally it makes sense to turn a once much-loved hotel back into homes.

“This will help to retain a building that is in danger of dilapidating further. A balance had to be struck between satisfying neighbours that the building can be brought back to life in an appropriate fashion and ensuring that any new development won’t harm residents’ amenity.

“Although the new attic with homes to the top of the building is not in keeping or strong in design terms, it owes its inclusion in the scheme to an implemented planning consent from 2005. This is certainly a compromise on the quality of build I would have liked here but the retention of an historic building in a conservation area studded with listed buildings for me overrides this concern."