Council approves new beach chalets proposal for Saltdean 

A proposal to build 14 new beach chalets at Saltdean was approved by the Tourism, Equalities, Communities & Culture (TECC) Committee at its meeting yesterday (Thursday 3 November). 

The proposal is the result of a report requested in June 2021 by the TECC Committee, following a public consultation and feasibility study presented in 2021. The report looked at three potential sites: Madeira Drive, Undercliff Rottingdean and Undercliff Saltdean Beach.  

The preferred site is Saltdean Beach, which offers the most cost-effective and easy – to-install option. New chalets can be sited directly onto the promenade, requiring minimal infrastructure work. Both water and electricity services are nearby, and it has good level access. 

The Feasibility Study proposed an ambitious approach to the design of beach chalets and this has been incorporated into the plans:  

  • The chalets are made of composite material, completely weatherproof and fireproof (to Class  A rating) and are pre-made off site, delivered and installed directly on the ground.  
  • Double style chalets have been proposed, with a dual pitched roof  
  • They will have French doors (without glazed panels) and open outward. 
  • Each chalet will be connected to electricity and have access to a drinking water standpipe.  

Overwhelming demand

Beach chalets are in high demand and can only be let by residents of Brighton & Hove. The waiting lists for the existing 105 chalets across Hove, Rottingdean, Madeira Drive, Ovingdean and Saltdean are closed at present, due to overwhelming demand. 

Since 2011, 51 of the 105 chalets have been re-let to new tenants, a turnover rate of just under 50% over 11 years. Over the next eight years, 122 chalets will be returned. This is a turnover rate of 116% over eight years. 

The increase in turnover is due to the introduction in 2011 of a maximum 5-year fixed term lease for new tenancies and the restriction of letting to Brighton & Hove residents only. In 2022, existing tenants with no fixed term were moved to new maximum eight-year fixed term lease. 

Now it has been approved by the TECC committee, a planning application could be made before the end of the year. If the Planning application is successful, the chalets could be available to rent from summer 2023. 

More people - and the environment - will benefit

Councillor Martin Osborne, Co-Chair of the Tourism, Equalities, Communities & Culture committee, said: “We are very lucky as residents to be able to enjoy the seaside in Brighton & Hove.

"I am really pleased we can make this enjoyment go even further by providing more of our popular beach chalets. Together with the changes to our letting policy introduced in 2011 and last year, the new chalets will enable more people to benefit from a lease of a chalet. 

 “The improved design of the new chalets makes them long-lasting and sustainable, which helps us towards our goal of tackling climate change too.” 

Photo: An example of the new-style chalets proposed for Saltdean.