Toads Hole Valley transport impact information received
The duplicate planning application that was submitted in January for the proposed Toads Hole Valley development is now ready to be heard at Planning Committee.
Two final pieces of transport information have recently been provided. These were not available at the time of the original application, making it impossible for us to decide to grant or refuse that application.
Although the closing date for submissions on the duplicate application passed in February, any comments we receive after that date will still be reported to the Planning Committee.
Duplication application
The proposed development, just south of the A27 near King George VI Avenue, includes plans for new homes, a school, community/sports facilities, offices, and retail space.
This duplicate application is identical to the original submitted in 2018.
At Planning Committee on 21 March 2022 councillors agreed that although the proposed development was acceptable in most other respects, they would have refused the 2018 proposals on grounds of insufficient transport information and objections received, including from National Highways and the council’s Transport Team.
New transport information
Discussions have continued on the outstanding transport matters and are now nearing their conclusion. The traffic model audit and road safety audit have been submitted and are available to view on our planning register by searching for ref BH2022/00203.
These audits confirm the impact the development would have on the A27, especially the Dyke Road junction and roundabout, and on other local roads.
Planning Committee
The submission of this information now means that councillors will be given the opportunity decide on whether to approve or refuse the proposals at a special Planning Committee at the end of May.
The date for this will be publicised on our website and through our social media channels when it has been finalised.
Toads Hole Valley is the city’s largest greenfield development site. If the proposals are approved, this important strategic site would deliver up to 880 new homes, including 40% affordable housing for the city. Those homes would be greener and more sustainable as they would be built to future Building Regulation standards.
The development would be subject to the council’s Community Infrastructure Levy and legal obligations, which would ensure appropriate supporting infrastructure is in place, including improvements at the A27 junction and roundabouts at Devil’s Dyke.
Public inquiry
As well as submitting a duplicate application, developers Toads Hole Valley Limited have appealed to the Planning Inspectorate. The public inquiry will take place on Thursday 9 and Friday 10 June, and Tuesday 14 to Friday 17 June inclusive.
The appeal against the original proposals may then be withdrawn or may continue, depending on whether all outstanding matters are resolved. The Planning Committee can resolve to either:
- approve the current duplicate scheme. It is then possible that the appeal against the original application would be withdrawn, or
- refuse the application, which would then be used as part of the council’s evidence submission for the appeal at the public inquiry.
Have your say on the current application
The duplicate application must go through the same legal consultation process as previous applications. This means that comments provided for the 2018 application could not legally be carried forward to the duplicate application.
Although the closing date for submissions on the duplicate application passed in February, any comments we receive after then will still be reported to the Planning Committee.
Anyone wishing to comment should do so as soon as possible using our online planning register. Alternatively, you can write to The Head of Planning, Brighton & Hove City Council, Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove BN3 3BQ.
