Case Study

Case Study - Regenerating Hove Station Neighbourhood

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Case study - Regenerating Hove Station Neighbourhood

Delivering a community-led campaign for new homes to Hove

WHAT DID WE DO

SEC Newgate supported Watkin Jones Group on a BTR application in Brighton & Hove, which gained consent in September 2020. An application on the site had previously been refused by the City Council’s Planning Committee.

After purchasing the site, Watkin Jones Group prepared fresh plans to deliver over 200 build to rent apartments, including tenure blind affordable homes.

Through close engagement with the local community, the plans were revised to include significant improvements to the public realm, including widened pavements, increased planting and seating. The plans were also amended to include a use class for community amenity as part of the ground floor commercial units, reflecting the importance which had been placed on integrating the building into the community.

SEC Newgate worked with the community and Watkin Jones Group to secure letters of support from a range of stakeholders, including local Councillors, one of whom spoke at committee in support of the scheme.

The engagement strategy was well received by the local ward members, who described the approach as “setting the benchmark for future engagement work not only in Brighton & Hove, but nationwide”.

I have been really impressed by the work of SEC Newgate on this project. The engagement strategy they employed was spot on from the outset and has helped us to gain planning permission on a site with a large number of stakeholders in a very political diverse city. On the strength of the planning committee member comments, I’m confident that the extensive public engagement work carried out by SEC Newgate has played a vital role in securing this planning consent. This engagement sets the benchmark for future engagement work not only in Brighton & Hove but nationwide.

Kenny Oke, Head of Development, Watkin Jones Group