Purchase of new development provides 38 extra council homes   

A block of 38 new flats in Whitehawk has been bought by the council to provide much needed additional council housing. 

The development in Whitehawk Way, known as the Kubic Apartments, was built by a private developer but never occupied. 

The flats are a mix of one, 2, and 3 bedroom homes, including 2 wheelchair accessible properties.  

They will be let as council-rented homes to people on the city’s housing register.  

Some could be let to existing council tenants who want to downsize from a bigger property, and so help to free up larger family homes.  

Councillors on the Housing & New Homes Committee and Strategy, Finance and Regeneration Committee agreed to the purchase of the flats earlier this year, and the sale was completed last week.  

Increasing the supply of new council homes

Councillor Gill Williams, chair of the Housing & New Homes Committee, said: "Providing more council homes is a top priority and buying this complete block of flats provides a substantial boost of 38 additional homes. 

“These are good quality flats which will be let to council tenants at social rents and we look forward to the first residents moving in. 

“The purchase is just one of a range of innovative ways we’re increasing the supply of council housing in the city. 

“We’re building new homes through our New Homes for Neighbourhoods programme and the Homes for Brighton & Hove partnership and buying back former council homes through our Home Purchase Policy.”

The 38 properties at Kubic apartments are just part of the picture of what the council is doing to increase the supply of new council homes.  

Homes for Brighton & Hove 

A total of 127 new council homes – a mix of one, 2 and 3 bedroom flats - are nearing completion in Coldean Lane, Coldean. These are part of a development by Homes for Brighton & Hove, a partnership between the council and affordable housing provider, Hyde. 

The development, which is called Denman Place, also includes a further 115 flats which will be available through Hyde as shared ownership homes 

It is the second project to be delivered by Homes for Brighton & Hove. The partnership’s first project was completed at Quay View in St James Square, off Wellington Road, Portslade in the summer, providing 49 council flats and 55 shared ownership flats. 

New Homes for Neighbourhoods  

Established in 2013, our New Homes for Neighbourhoods programme has delivered 269 new council-rented homes across 15 sites so far – most recently, the award-winning development of Jay Court and Perching Court in Portslade. 

Work is currently underway on 4 new council homes in Frederick Street in the city centre, and work is due to start shortly on 3 new homes in Rotherfield Crescent, Hollingbury. 

A further 264 homes - including 212 on the Moulsecoomb Housing and Community Hub and Project - have planning approval, and are progressing through the development process. 

Proposals are also in the pipeline for 5 other new developments of council homes. If approved the developments would deliver a total of more than 100 one, 2 and 3 bedroom homes on council-owned sites at the former Hollingbury Library site, former Portslade Village Centre, Windlesham House, Swanborough Drive and Oakley House. 

Home Purchase Policy 

As well as building new council homes, we’re also buying back former council homes sold under the Right to Buy through our Home Purchase Policy. Since the policy was introduced in 2017 more than 290 homes have been brought back into council ownership. 

For more information, read the full 21 June 2023 Housing & New Homes Committee report (agenda item 9)