Agenda item - BH2025/00899 - Land Adjacent to West Stand American Express Stadium, Village Way, Brighton - Full Planning

1.    The case officer introduced the application to the committee.

Answers to Committee Member Questions

2.    Councillor Cattell was informed that there were no details available for how the Bennetts Field development would be started. The development was approved by Lewes District Council.

3.    Councillor Robinson was informed that the Bennetts Field scheme was not on land owned by the football stadium. Vehicle access will be from the A27 and Village Way. The first and second decks will be accessed via ramps. There will be no vehicle access from the north and west of the site. Access via Village Way is considered the safest route for employees and directors. On non match days it is considered there will be very little pedestrian traffic. On match days there will be a no movement restriction one hour before and one hour after the match. There will also be stewards on site to assist movements between pedestrians and vehicles. Village Way is under the ownership of the stadium.

4.    Councillor Theobald was informed that there will be disabled parking bays on the ground floor, giving level access to the stadium and second deck, access being gained via the lift. The Falmer Campus of Brighton University is closest the development and no bedrooms are located nearby. It is hoped that the disruption of operations will be kept to a minimum. The agent stated they did not have the timescale of the development to hand.

5.    Councillor Shanks was informed that over 500 parking spaces were lost when Bennetts Field lease ran out in 2021. The original planning consent for the stadium included a minimum of 1,500 parking spaces. Currently there are 2,219 parking spaces. Other sites are being looked on land owned by the stadium. New landscaping is proposed. The 6 existing small trees are to be relocated on the site and more trees planted in the development area. The details of the soft landscaping and maintenance are to be provided by condition.

6.    Councillor Sheard was informed that the Fan Zone structure is on a different level to the development and is only has pedestrian access.

Debate

7.    Councillor Robinson considered the development to be in keeping with the site, with a good layout. It was considered good that the trees are to be replaced and the existing trees to be relocated within the site. The councillor considered more disabled parking bays would be good; however, they supported the application.

8.    Councillor Sheard considered the design to be ingenious, with good ramp access. The onsite parking for staff will take the pressure off other car parks and will therefore have a positive impact.

9.    Councillor Theobald considered it would be nice to keep the trees and hedges. The application is a good idea since losing Bennetts Field parking area. It was noted that the South Downs National Park have no objections. The design was considered good and the development excellent.

10. Councillor Thomson considered the design to be good, the parking gained was a small amount; however, there were lots of conditions, and they therefore supported the application.

Vote

11. A vote was held, and the committee agreed unanimously to grant planning permission.

12. RESOLVED: That the Committee has taken into consideration and agrees with the reasons for the recommendation set out in the report and resolves to be MINDED TO GRANT planning permission subject to a s106 agreement and the following Conditions and Informatives, SAVE THAT should the s106 agreement not be completed or significantly advanced on or before 6th February 2026 the Head of Planning is hereby authorised to refuse planning permission for the reasons set out at the end of the report.