Barracks plan takes a step forward
Published 3 March 2011
Plans that could see land at Preston Barracks developed along with the adjoining University of Brighton sites will be presented for approval at the Environment Cabinet Member Meeting next Thursday, 10 March.
If approved, there will be a six week period of public consultation.
The council and university, who have been working together for the past 18 months towards wider plans for the former barracks site, are keen to join forces to create a comprehensive development spanning the Lewes Road.
The former Preston Barracks site has been earmarked for development for several years, but the addition of the adjacent University of Brighton sites (Moulsecoomb campus and Mithras House) opens up many more opportunities.
Preston Barracks opposite Mithras House on the Lewes Road in Moulsecoomb
Brighton & Hove City Council has drawn up a draft planning brief for the site, to create a mixed development of office space, educational buildings, housing, shops, and student accommodation.
The brief states that the development should be looking to include a substantial amount of employment floorspace, around 300 residential units, retail and community facilities along with university buildings, including a new business school with 750 units of student housing.
Plans could also include pedestrian and cycle links, improved linkages across the Lewes Road, and a parkland walk to connect the adjoining residential areas with Moulsecoomb station.
Professor Julian Crampton, the University of Brighton Vice-Chancellor, said: "This is a significant and positive step forward for a development that will support local businesses, the community and higher education in general.
"It is consistent with the university being an integral part of Brighton and Hove, and we are delighted to be in partnership with the city council in this innovative project."
Cabinet councillor for environment, Geoffrey Theobald, said: "There is tremendous potential in the barracks site. It's a large brownfield site quite near the city centre which could provide much-needed homes, jobs and academic facilities. It is also an opportunity to create a much more impressive gateway on a key route into the city."
Go to page 81–124 to see the planning brief in full (20Mb pdf).
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