A recent City Council press release informs that the former ice rink in Queen Square has been sold and the site will be redeveloped as an apartment-style hotel by the Light Boutique Apart Hotel chain. It is to be designed by Conran & Partners to provide 60 apartments and a cafe subject to planning permission which is expected in within 6 months.
It seems a good spot for a hotel. At the end of a cul-de-sac and backing on to the St Nicholas Churchyard it will be a uniquely quiet spot only 150 yards from Brighton's main shopping centre. However the number of apartments planned suggest it will be a substantial building and will be clearly visible from the churchyard. In the photo below I judge it will be just out of the photo to the left of the tree so probably not too dominant as long as its not too high.
It is surely inevitable that it will cast a near permanent shadow, particularly in winter, over the south- eastern part of the churchyard. A period of community consultation is expected to begin shortly. No doubt the height of the hotel and number of parking places to be provided will be high in the list of topics discussed.
I'm afraid I'd stop all the clocks, banning any new build until architects rediscovered a sense of scale and proportion.
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