Support for development of biggest greenfield site

People have broadly welcomed the principle of using Brighton & Hove’s largest greenfield development site to provide over 700 homes, employment space and potentially a new secondary school.

Toad’s Hole Valley, north of Hove, is a 37-hectare former downland site now cut off from the National Park by the A27. It is earmarked for development in the government-approved City Plan.

Between February and May this year the council staged a public consultation on draft planning guidance for the site to inform detailed development proposals coming forward and to help deliver a high quality scheme.

A new council report outlines the consultation results. It says 138 representations were received from individuals, organisations and statutory bodies such as Natural England.  Most respondents raised few issues with the guidance, says the report.

Among features supported were:

Provision of affordable housing
Protection of wildlife and ecology
Creating a link to the National Park
The potential to improve bus services.

People expressed concern about:

The potential for traffic and parking to impact the surrounding area
The need to get transport arrangements right
The lack of a whole-site ‘garden city’ approach to design

Chair of the council’s Tourism, Development and Culture committee, Cllr Alan Robins said : “This is a good response for this kind of consultation. It has given us a clear picture of the things people want to happen and also a clear picture of their concerns.  We’ll need to keep both of these at the forefront of our minds as planning applications come forward.

 “The site has potential to make a big contribution to our acute housing needs. But we need to make sure we have good designs which respect the environment and create a thriving new community.”

Officers are recommending councillors on the committee officially adopt the new Supplementary Planning Document on Toad’s Hole Valley.  It will be discussed at their meeting on 21 September.

Click here to go to the committee's agenda papers elsewhere on this website.