Brighton & Hove sixth form college BHASVIC has won planning permission today (January 29 2014) for a large extension building to accommodate growing student numbers.
The planning committee voted unanimously in favour this afternoon
An initial application was refused by the committee last October after councillors objected to the building’s colour and design. They disliked features like green and blue panels on the building, which they felt were unsympathetic to the traditional red brickwork of the existing college buildings.
New plans show the three-storey building clad in red-brown brick and panelling in earthier colours.
BHASVIC currently has 2089 students, with numbers expected to expand by 288 next academic year.
Fronting onto Dyke Road, the facility will occupy a former car park. A travel survey has shown most students do not drive to the college. Planning officers say there are ample sustainable transport links to the site.
The extension would be around 11 metres high – roughly the same as BHASVIC’s main building. It would achieve a national rating of ‘excellent’ for environmental features.
Under an agreement with planning officers the college would pay £90,000 for nearby highway improvements and guarantee to use at least 20 per cent local labour for the build.
Planning committee chair Phelim Mac Cafferty said: “Citywide we’re trying to boost the space we need to educate our young people. BHASVIC plays a very important part in how we as a city need to provide academic and employment opportunities for future generations. The new design was felt to be an improvement on the previous one. It’s modern and smart but sympathetic to the existing buildings.”
See a picture of the proposed development