The 'Keep' gets a go-ahead

News from Brighton reports that the proposed £19m history centre, "the Keep", to be built to the north of Brighton, has been approved by Brighton and Hove City council’s planners. It is hoped it will be completed in time for opening in 2013 with work now expected to begin at Woollards Field, near Falmer, see above, next summer.

The project is a collaboration between East Sussex County Council, Brighton & Hove City Council and the University of Sussex.  It will provide a secure home for all the archives and historical resources of East Sussex and Brighton & Hove, and the Special Collections of the University of Sussex, including the internationally  renowned Mass Observation Archive. The building will also include the library and headquarters of the Sussex Family History Group.

News from Brighton quotes Councillor Bob Tidy, community services member at East Sussex County Council, who said:
“The Keep will be the new home for over 900 years of historical resources and collections of local, national and international importance. It will house over six miles of archives including written records, maps, plans, films, photographs, prints and drawings. Councils up and down the country are looking at all their planned new schemes and only putting forward those they believe are their key priorities and for which funding has already been planned. The Keep falls into that category and I’m delighted that it has been given the go-ahead.”

Shown below is an accurate photomontage of the appearance of the Keep from Ringmer Road and an artist's impression viewed from north-east:-:-