Issue - items at meetings - Lewes Road (Preston Barracks and University of Brighton) Planning Brief

Report of the Strategic Director, Place (copy attached).

(1)         That the Cabinet Member approves the draft planning brief as forming the basis of a public consultation exercise.

110.1          The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Strategic Director, Place seeking approval to consult on a draft planning brief for the former Preston Barracks site and adjacent University of Brighton sites (Moulsecoomb Campus and Mithras House).

110.2          The Cabinet Member explained that the draft brief had been prepared by council officers in consultation with the University of Brighton in order to guide the future development of the former Preston Barracks site (owned by the council), the University’s Moulsecoomb campus (centred on Watts and Cockroft buildings) and Mithras House. The aim was that a partnership approach to the development, with the addition of the University’s landholdings, would provide an opportunity to secure a viable mix of land uses to help regenerate the area. The planning brief set out the potential for an imaginative approach  and development partners would be expected to deliver the highest standards of design and sustainability. Public consultation would last for six weeks and a revised version of the brief would be presented to a future Cabinet Member Meeting.

110.3          Councillor Mitchell welcomed the planning brief approach and opportunities it brought. She hoped that it would result in a distinct development that would be well connected to its surroundings and accessible to members of the public. She noted that the site benefited from good transport links, but risked being hidden if the development was not open and front-facing.

110.4          The Cabinet Member invited Councillor Fallon-Khan, Cabinet Member for Enterprise, Employment & Major Projects, and Professor Julian Crampton, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Brighton, to address the meeting.

110.5          Councillor Fallon-Khan described the positive relationship between the council, the University of Brighton and other interested parties and reported that negotiations had been constructive with all parties remaining conscious of the others’ view points. He commended the work of the Project Board and stated that the development was an exciting regeneration project that he hoped it would be an example, both nationally and internationally, of what could be achieved in a challenging financial circumstances. The aim of the development was to achieve harmonisation between students, residents and the surrounding areas.

110.6          Professor Crampton reported that the council and University had formed a fruitful partnership and that planning brief offered some exciting opportunities. He advised that the University was fully committed to achieving a valuable development for the city, with sustainability priorities at the centre of the project.

110.7          RESOLVED - That having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member accepted the following recommendations:

(1)         That the draft planning brief be approved to form the basis of a public consultation exercise.