Changes to historic act will support Brunswick residents
Councillors are being asked to make changes to an historic act of parliament, to support residents and business owners in Brunswick Square and Brunswick Terrace during the Covid-19 crisis.
The Hove Borough Act 1976 requires property owners to repaint their buildings every five years. The painting is due to take place this year, before the deadline of 31 December.
Taking pressure off residents
However, councillors on the Tourism, Equalities, Communities & Culture committee are considering deferring the deadline for a year to take the pressure off residents and business owners.
They will also decide whether to re-align the five years re-painting schedule to reflect the new deadline.
The Hove Borough Council Act 1976 succeeded the Brunswick Square and Terrace Act of 1830 and aims to preserve the uniformity and appearance of properties throughout the Estate.
Under the act, property owners have a statutory duty to repaint the street fronts, including the iron railings and balconies, every fifth year.
Painters must use a specific colour which the council, Historic England, Brunswick residents and the paint manufacturer have developed together.
Extending the timetable
The buildings were due to be repainted this year, but the current Covid-19 crisis has created difficulties, from obtaining the specialist paint (the supplier is temporarily closed) to scheduling the skilled tradesmen to carry out the work, which should ideally be completed in the spring and summer months.
Extending the timetable by a year (to 31 December 2021) would enable property owners to make proper preparations for the work.
Councillor Alan Robins, chair of the the Tourism, Equalities, Communities & Culture committee, said: "We are acutely aware of the difficulties residents are currently facing, both financially and personally.
“Anything we can do at this time to relieve pressure and make life a little easier for these residents is certainly worth discussing.”
The proposal will be discussed at the Tourism, Equalities, Communities & Culture committee meeting on 7 May.
