Portzed scheme in Hove approved by planners

The Portzed eco-development at the Hove end of Shoreham Harbour has been approved by planners.

The scheme involves demolishing the existing Magnet showroom and putting up six blocks of flats from three to five storeys high.

The scheme, in Basin Road North and Kingsway, Hove, includes 52 flats, a visitor centre, shops and a café as well as parking for 58 cars and 118 bikes.

Seven councillors on the Brighton and Hove City Council Planning Committee voted in favour, four were against and one abstained.

Sue Moffatt, spoke for the Kingsway and West Hove Residents’ Association (KAWHRA), which opposes the scheme.

She said: “Neighbours do not oppose development of this site, only overdevelopment.

“People living opposite the site would suffer a major loss of sunlight for 19 weeks.”

Councillor Garry Peltzer Dunn

She criticised the way the loss of sunlight had been assessed, said that the scheme would have an adverse effect on the quality of life of the site’s neighbours and added: “Development of the basin should not be at the expense of its neighbours.”

Conservative councillor Garry Peltzer Dunn, who represents Wish ward, said: “The report prepared by officers is very fair.

“They have outlined very adequately the environmental benefits that would be derived from such a scheme but mainly to the occupants of the scheme.”

He said that it would be to the detriment of people living around the scheme and that it would generate a lot of extra traffic.

He said that it was unrealistic, adding: “It’s important that residents’ reasonable views should be taken into consideration.

“It’s an overdevelopment, it will result in overshadowing and it will overwhelm the area and I hope that the committee will overwhelmingly reject this application.”

Afterwards he said that he was underwhelmed, adding: “I thought that there were reasonable grounds for refusal.”

Labour councillor Anne Pissasridou, who also represents Wish ward, said that the scheme breached the planning policies for the area.

Planning consultant Simon Bareham said that the scheme would create 66 full-time jobs and comfortably exceed the council’s sustainable development guidelines.

He added that it would bring much-needed affordable housing and, in light of earlier objections, he said: “The wind turbines and biomass heating system have been removed from the scheme.”

The overall loss of daylight, he said, would be 2 per cent – a figure disputed by the scheme’s opponents.

Developer Colin Brace said: “Portzed was born out a desire to build a truly sustainable development.

“It has taken seven years and numerous meetings and consultation to get to this point where we have a scheme which is recommended by your officers.

Councillor Ian Davey

“The port needs a significant and distinctive set of buildings, visible upon its approach to identify the gateway to the port and signal this is where sustainable development begins.

“Portzed’s importance is far greater than its physical size.

“It will set a benchmark for sustainable development not only throughout the port and the city but also nationally.

“Its function as a green business hub will encourage further sustainable development within the port.

“Its importance as a credible groundbreaking development has been acknowledged by CABE following a comprehensive design review and has already won over half a million pounds of funding from central government.

“I would urge the committee to support the professional advice from your officers and approve the scheme in front of you today so that I can get on with building much-needed housing for the city.”

In response to questions he said that the scheme would employ local labour and provide apprenticeships.

He gave a commitment not to bring back the wind turbines, adding: “I consider affordable housing to be an essential part of the scheme.

“There will be no attempt to eliminate affordable housing from the scheme or reduce the percentage.”

Councillor Ian Davey said: “The applicants have made a real effort to address the concerns raised by residents and the committee.

“We’ve still got 40 per cent affordable housing and a high level of sustainability.”

Councillor Geoff Wells said: “The developers have done their darnedest to appease neighbours.

“The loss of light was a concern … but it seems there is no significant loss of light.

“It’s a damned good mix and the developers have got it right this time.”

Councillor Penny Gilbey said that she welcomed the scheme but was concerned about the height of the tallest two buildings.

Councillor Bill Randall said that the turbines had gone, adding to the permeability of the scheme. He said: “We’ve had a guarantee on the affordable element. Overall I think it’s good for the city.”