Exciting plans to develop a new neighbourhood hub and more than 200 homes on a number of underused sites in Moulsecoomb moved a step closer this week.
Proposals to transfer land to the council’s housing revenue account and relocate services were agreed by Housing Committee on 29 April and Policy & Resources committee on 30 April.
The business case on the proposals was also agreed by the Policy & Resources committee.
The receipts from the housing development will then be reinvested to develop a new neighbourhood hub, sports facilities and the possible required refurbishment of the former Portslade Sixth Form site for relocated services.
The homes would be delivered through our New Homes for Neighbourhoods scheme building new council-rented homes across the city. We’re aiming to build as many new council homes as we can.
We’ve been discussing the proposals with local residents and community groups over the past year.
Earlier this year, we held a series of ‘planning for real’ sessions, which used a 3D model of the neighbourhood to give residents a hands-on way of having their say on the best way to provide what’s needed.
More than 200 residents attended and gave constructive and positive feedback on what they’d like to see and any potential concerns.
Views given included the facilities and activities residents would like in the hub, the type of housing, transport and the public realm. The full 'planning for real' report is included as an addendum in the two main committee reports.
This has helped develop the design principles for both the neighbourhood hub and the proposed new housing development.
We will be returning to talk to residents about how their views have been fed into the initial designs as soon as possible after Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted.
The proposals are to develop a neighbourhood hub building on land next to the Moulsecoomb Sports Centre, and redevelop the sites currently used by the Moulsecoomb north and south hubs and the 67 Centre
The aim is for the new community building to improve the services and facilities available for residents of Moulsecoomb and Bevendean.
Services and facilities that could be located in the hub include a GP Surgery, Moulsecoomb Library, adult learning and a community café.
Proposals would also include new centre for youth services – either within the hub or in a separate building on the wider site.
Bringing services together into a new purpose-built centre also frees up a number of sites to build around 230 much-needed new homes.
Councillor Nancy Platts, leader of the council, said: “I’m really pleased to see this exciting proposal for a new neighbourhood hub in Moulsecoomb moving forward.
“The plan means we could develop around 230 council homes and progress our pledge to residents to build more council homes and tackle the housing crisis.
“It also includes plans for a new youth centre and a range of improved facilities.
“This is an ambitious project that can help us really improve the local services for Moulsecoomb and Bevendean residents, and I want to thank everyone who came along to our ‘Planning for Real’ sessions to have their say on the services and activities they’d like to see included in this new hub.”
We’re still in the early stages, and there are still many to go through to progress the plans but, if approved, the development is expected to take around four years.
Work to develop the detailed plans for the neighbourhood hub and the housing are continuing and we will be keeping the community updated.
We will hold more events in the community to keep residents updated as they develop, once Covid-19 restrictions are lifted.
A planning application for the neighbourhood hub is likely to be submitted later this year, although could be subject to delays due to Covid-19.
All detailed proposals for the housing development will go through the Housing Committee for agreement before any planning applications are made.
