Rundown part of Brighton to turn into eco-estate

The £100m regeneration project will see a community wind turbine and solar power plant spring up over the plant-covered “living roofs” of buildings housing 180 flats as well as shops, offices, a new university library and dance studios.

Brighton and Hove City Council decided to put Kent-based developer Cathedral Group in charge of the development, dubbed Grow Brighton. The project could bring £0.5bn into the city and up to 1,400 jobs over the next ten years, the developer has said.

Scott Marshall, assistant director of economic development and regeneration at Brighton and Hove Council, said: “We selected Cathedral because they not only presented a well thought out and exciting scheme, but also demonstrated passion, energy and commitment to the project as well as the local community.”

Public consultation and a university study into local needs fed into the regeneration plans, and informed the decision to make at least 70 of the 180 flats “affordable” properties for local people.

Work should start next spring, with the university library ready by May 2008 and the entire project completed by November 2008.

Cathedral’s chief executive Richard Upton said: “Key to our proposals is a desire to create a sustainable new quarter, both ecologically and economically.

“This means that we’ll be supporting growth of local business through an enterprise hub, and involving the local community in our plans.”

Public consultation on the project will continue, with an onsite office set up for this purpose.

Goska Romanowicz