The planning application is due to be presented at Brighton & Hove City Council’s next meeting which is due to take place on 2nd April.
The news has come as quite a shock considering just last week the local authority claimed it was unwilling to grant landlord’s consent as a result of the proposed land being earmarked for leisure and recreation.
The land proposed for the site is situated in Benfield Valley, Hove. It is north of Hangleton Lane and east of the A293 link road and includes designated green space.
What’s more, the application, which is comprised of mostly three and four-bedroom houses and some flats, has received almost 300 objections from locals. The majority of the complaints are concerning road access and the effects on the biodiversity in the area.
In contrast, a report to the planning committee supports the project although the nine councillors that make up the planning committee must come to their own decision.
According to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, controversy over the site began when the land was handed to locals by the Sainsbury family over 30 years ago. As it stands, the council owns the freehold but has leased the land.
Benfield Investments Ltd and Benfield Property Ltd are behind the new housing application and are working with developer Hollybrook Homes. The plans have recently undergone changes following the public outcry and now they include community parkland, doubling the size of the proposed wildlife corridor and the preservation of more protected trees.
David Godden of Benfield Property said: ‘We believe these changes have struck the right balance between protecting the local environment – 90% of Benfield Valley remaining undeveloped – and providing very much-needed housing to help solve the housing crisis.’
However John Hewitt, Cllr for Hangleton and Knoll, has claimed the proposal would do nothing but damage the area.
‘The site is chalk grassland which accommodates wildlife and vegetation,’ he said. ‘This proposal would jeopardise the biodiversity in this area.’
On the subject of biodiversity, we’ve recently reported that a site in Devon that is being restored to help surrounding wildlife.
Photo by David S via UnSplash
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