More new homes for Davigdor Road
Dozens of new homes could be created in Davigdor Road, Hove after the council’s planning committee this week (December 9) agreed they were minded to grant planning permission.
A total of 47 flats would be created on the site of a four-storey building at numbers 121 to 123, which would be demolished. It is currently used by a charity, with basement studios for fitness classes and 26 rooms let for emergency accommodation.
Under the proposals the community facilities would be replaced on-site, with a 115 sq m room.
The new building would range between five and eight storeys. It would contain 16 one-bed flats, 28 two-bed flats and five with three bedrooms. Eight of the flats would be affordable homes aimed at local people on the housing waiting list. Basement parking for 15 vehicles would be accessed from adjacent Lyon Close.
The council has negotiated with developers financial contributions worth £226,000 to improve the locality. Just over £27,000 will be spent on transport. The Lyon Close bus stop will get a shelter, seat and real-time information board. There will be a new pedestrian crossing outside and improved walking routes to local schools and St Anne’s Well Gardens.
The money will also pay for two years free Car Club membership for residents in the new flats.
Developers would pay £100,000 to improve nearby open spaces, sport and recreation, £76,000 for schools, and £23,000 for local employment. As least 20 per cent of construction staff would be local.
The building would have a two-tone brick finish with large grey windows. There would be 10 new trees with more planting at ground level and on roof terraces on floors five and seven.
Planning committee chair Cllr Julie Cattell said: “This makes much more efficient use of a scarce site to provide vital new housing. It should also improve the look of a rather untidy street scene in that area.
“We would ideally have liked more affordable homes, but the District Valuer concluded that would make the scheme financially unviable. Along with the financial contributions we’ve managed to secure, we feel the benefits outweigh the disadvantages.”
The site is next door the two-storey offices and car park of the housing group Hyde which already has permission to redevelop it into 68 flats and 700 sq m of office space. Next door to that, the office block P&H House has prior approval for conversion to homes.
ends