Construction Industry News Archive
Welcome to the news archive page. This is where you will find articles from February 2007. If you would like to view our current news, please click here.
- New doubts over King Alfred plan
- Our centre of decline
- Development plans for M23 site include new hospital
- Tallest tower plans shelved
- Port plan is back to drawing board
New doubts over King Alfred plan
English Heritage has hit back at claims that it has endorsed the controversial King Alfred redevelopment scheme.
Karis's managing director Josh Arghiros said last year that the public body had given its support to the £290 million Frank Gehry seafront development.
But in a letter to Brighton and Hove City Council released this week, Graham Steaggles, EH's historic area adviser, said that although it "broadly supports" the project it still has important concerns.
A new sports complex, shops and 751 homes are planned for the site of the crumbling leisure centre, which has been the subject of a series of failed development bids.
A recent poll revealed that two-thirds of the city supports the development but the scheme has also attracted much criticism from resident groups and councillors. Mr Steaggles also expressed surprised at Karis's assessment that English Heritage's remaining concerns were beyond its remit and subjective.
He said:
"We must disagree with the applicant's view on our remit, while limited, the comments English Heritage have made relate to the possible impact of proposals directly or indirectly on the historic environment - the site is largely surrounded by conservation areas and lies opposite listed buildings.
Indirectly there are also possible longer term impacts on Brighton and Hove and the well-being of its historic fabric and character. This is applicable to this scheme and others along the seafront, hence our comments on the relevant appearance of external elevations, public realm, pedestrian and traffic implications.
Finally, the applicants statements appear to be concluding that a lack of objection is endorsement; and yes English Heritage are broadly in support of this scheme, but we must reiterate this support, as indicated in our letter, is qualified, and we would argue that a large set piece scheme such as this, in such a prominent position deserves considerable attention if its objectives and longevity are to be delivered."
Valerie Paynter, from Save Hove which is protesting against the scheme, said:
"The letter makes it clear English Heritage are not happy and that they do not fully support it."
Councillor Averil Older, who is an opponent of the development, said:
"English Heritage appear to have big concerns and are clearly rattled by Karis's publicity machine, stating that they have EH endorsement."
A Karis spokesman said it welcomed English Heritage's contribution and that although the body had raised issues about some details, it had nonetheless given its broad support.
He said:
"The details in question refer to the durability of the materials, the number of balconies on the western elevation, the roof plant, details of the Juliet balconies, the eastern elevation and the works on the Kingsway.
Karis Holdings has responded on all these issues in order to satisfy EH's concerns and welcomes further dialogue."
The scheme is set to be heard at a planning committee in the near future, but is currently being held up by a linked development of a new indoor bowls facility in Hove Park, The Droveway.
From The Argus, 9th February 2007
Our centre of decline
The decline of the Brighton Centre is costing hotels, shops and restaurants up to £40 million a year, it has been claimed.
A report commissioned by Brighton and Hove City Council reveals that falling conference trade is hitting the hotel industry. And hoteliers, developers and business groups warn delays to the centre's redevelopment are affecting the overall economy.
Council leader Simon Burgess said last night that the ten-year time lapse since proposals were first mooted was disappointing but added that plans were progressing.
The Brighton Centre generated four to six weeks of business for hotels in 2006, according to the Brighton and Hove Hotel Futures Study, while a confidential document obtained by The Argus shows that conferences were held for 24 weeks in 1996. The £15,000 report reveals:
"The most significant change in the Brighton hotel and guest accommodation market has been the decline in Brighton Centre conference and exhibition business."
A council team dedicated to booking accommodation for conferences has seen a 53 per cent fall in the number of rooms booked between 2000 and 2005.
In 1996, architects Jara International were in talks with the council to create a hotel and conference complex where the Brighton Centre and Kingswest building currently stand. A draft press statement, which was subsequently watered down, reveals officers had serious concerns about the centre's competitiveness even at that time.
The release said:
"It is undoubtedly the shabbiest member of the top UK division of centres and has been struggling in recent years to win major international conventions against competition for newer rivals in Edinburgh, Birmingham, London and Glasgow."
Jim Roberts, chairman of Jara International, believes Brighton and Hove has lost its position as one of the leading conference destinations.
Bournemouth has completed a multi-million-pound extension and renovation project to its conference centre in three years. In 2003 its councillors were given the option of investing in improvements or "withering and dying" like the Brighton Centre.
Peter Gunn, managing director of Bournemouth International Centre, said the venue was expected to bring in £90 million a year to the economy, £20 more than before the facelift.
The most recent estimate of the Brighton Centre's economic clout was £50 million a year.
Mr Roberts said: "It is now almost too late to save the Brighton conference centre. In 1997 it had the opportunity of being the leading centre in the UK but Liverpool, Southampton, Bournemouth and Manchester have moved ahead.
"For the last 20 years the council has been dozy and there seems to have been no activity."
Mr Roberts still believes his ambitious proposal for the centre can work, and is urging the council to reopen negotiations.
Coun Burgess said:
"We have to get the development right. We need to develop a centre that appeals to international associations. We want to be the destination in the UK."
Mark Jones, chairman of Brighton and Hove Hotels Association, said the city was losing out on millions of pounds in the meantime. He said:
"Conferences which have been loyal to the city are now looking around them, seeing there are better centres to go to."
From The Argus, 1st February 2007
Development plans for M23 site include new hospital
Ambitious plans for a major development could include a new hospital.
A consortium is investigating the possibility of creating a business centre, building luxury homes and a hospital on a site near the M23 to the east of Gatwick which could cover up to 250 acres.
But Crawley Borough Council does not believe the location is suitable and has not earmarked it in its plans for any future development of the area.
A Government inspector will hold a two-day public examination of the council's local development framework later this month.
The framework looks at areas across the borough and sets out where it thinks new homes and businesses could be built.
The consortium for the plan, branded the Gatwick Green project, are expected to ask the inspector to consider the site. At the moment it does not form part of the framework.
The consortium is made up of Wilky Property Holdings, Prudential and the Crown Estate.
Anthony Painter, director of communications company Jefferson, is co-ordinating the developers behind the scheme.
He says the developers are looking to do something to benefit Crawley but there were no detailed plans and the project was at the "conversations" stage only.
Organisations approached include BAA, Crawley council, neighbouring Reigate and Bansted Council and local businesses but not all are in favour of the plans.
Crawley council executive member for development Claire Denman said:
"The proposals put forward are contrary to the council's proposed policies.
The council believes its policy to regenerate and make best use of the existing employment areas around the town, including Manor Royal and the Three Bridges corridor, is the most appropriate way forward to meet the town's economic aspirations."
BAA is also said to have reservations as part of any development would take up land which needs to be safeguarded for the possibility of any future development at Gatwick.
Reigate and Bansted Council is also keen to keep areas around Crawley green and maintain a strategic gap around the airport.
Hospital services at Crawley have been a controversial subject for the town following the loss of its accident and emergency, maternity and paediatric departments to East Surrey Hospital in Redhill.
Tens of thousands of people have signed a petition calling for full hospital services to be reinstated in the town.
There is also a separate campaign, backed by the borough council and Horsham District Council, to build a new hospital at Pease Pottage near Crawley.
Crawley campaigner Michael Edwards said:
"Any development that includes the possibility of hospital services is going to attract interest from people but we will need to see more details first."
From The Argus, 31st January 2007
Tallest tower plans shelved
Plans to build one of the tallest towers in Sussex have been shelved.
The City Gateway scheme in South Portslade featured a 39-storey tower, including 50 apartments, a heath and fitness club, showrooms, a media centre, dance studio and offices.
If put up now, it would be the highest building in the county, although proposals are in the offing for taller structures, including the Brighton Eye near the West Pier.
The development on the site of the former Flexersacks factory between Wellington Road and North Street was widely welcomed when it was announced in 2004.
But Hove-based property developer Fash Ghiaci, known to everyone as Fash, said no progress had been made after protracted talks with Brighton and Hove City Council.
He said:
"They lack business acumen. The council has 8,000 employees and they are pulling in opposite directions."
Fash said one official had even suggested the site was used to help solve the city's waste problems.
He said the council had made constant requests for more information, including an urban design study and a financial gap analysis. City Gateway met them all, he said.
More land had been bought at a price well over the odds to complete the site and the company had gone along with the council's wishes by appointing a planning consultant.
Fash said:
"They were really bullish about it at first but they kept changing their minds.
The Government wants to make planning easier and I agree but it must be done with common sense.
I have wasted three years of my time and a six-figure sum and the site has not been developed. Other developers could tell a similar story.
To make the city viable we need to attract major companies and make it an economic success. I am not here just to make money. I am trying to do something that will benefit the city."
Fash said it was indicated that a Suzuki motorbike showroom planned for part of the site would be approved. However, it was rejected by officials using their own powers.
The council wanted jobs on the site but Fash said the scheme needed a strong retail element, which could be a supermarket, and housing, which would include low-cost homes, for it to be viable.
He said:
"I am now going to repair the buildings and let them for low rental uses that do not need planning permission. This will not produce many jobs but I am having to do something."
Brighton and Hove regen-eration councillor Don Turner, who lives in Portslade, said:
"This is a difficult one.
It is an industrial site and we want to see it produce a number of jobs.
The original scheme had a good mixture of jobs and other uses, including a recording studio, but he said it didn't stack up financially."
We want jobs on this site and we would love to support a mixed development."
From The Argus, 18th January 2007
Port plan is back to drawing board
A developer has withdrawn a £140 million plan to regenerate a town.
Oakdene Homes has gone back to the drawing board after residents in Newhaven identified a number of problems with the plan, which would involve developing the marina and railway areas of the town.
The company also wants time to gather more details about aspects of the plan including the flood risk and contaminated land, before it is put before Lewes District Council.
It is expected to submit a fresh application for the proposed development in the next couple of months.
The current plans include 334 new flats split into ten blocks at the marina, along with a marina office and club room, bars, shops and workshops.
At the station there would be 188 flats split into three blocks, as well as seven town houses and a 273-space car park.
Two former railway sheds would be converted into an entertainments complex with a bar, restaurant, shops, an art gallery, gym, nightclub and hotel.
The developments would be phases three and four of a plan to regenerate the port. Oakdene has already built 111 homes at the marina.
Town and district councillor Judith Ost said residents were broadly supportive of the plans, although there had been some areas of concern.
She said:
"One issue was that the apartment blocks overlooking Gibbon Road were just too tall. People weren't dead set against them but they were taller than expected.
Apparently they had been raised because of the flood risk and also new regulations about the minimum height of individual storeys which meant that it was bigger than you might think a four-storey building would be.
The community living at the bottom of Gibbon Road, who have been there a very long time, were worried that their two-storey properties would be overlooked.
The residents at Mariners Wharf, in Fort Road, were also worried about loss of views and people in South Road were worried about an increase in traffic travelling right outside their doors
On the railway site, there were also some concerns that a footpath along the quay would be in darkness at night which could be a safety issue."
No one from Oakdene Homes was available for comment.
Lewes District Council received 70 letters in response to the application, including a number which expressed support for the scheme.
From The Argus, 16th January 2007
