All change at Hove Town Hall

Planning permission has been granted for works to expand office capacity at Hove Town Hall and radically improve its energy efficiency. In the next five years the council needs to save over £100m out of its current £770m budget, due to cuts in funding from central government and rising costs.

The Hove Town Hall plan is part of modernising the council through flexible working using new technology, reducing accommodation costs and occupying fewer buildings. It will make use of the existing space within Hove Town Hall, to help to accommodate approximately 650 additional staff. Key features of the plan are the creation of new floors within the central main area, conversion of redundant space into new offices, refurbishment of existing areas and formation of new meeting spaces. The plan will mean the council can decant workers from its current HQ Kings House on Hove seafront, then sell the building which is currently being marketed.

To improve energy efficiency the entire glass façade of the building will be replaced with modern double glazed units.  The roof will have new coverings and solar panels generating electricity. A new heating and ventilation system will further improve efficiency.

The front entrance would be altered to create a café for public and staff and bring a more lively frontage to the building.  There would be outdoor seating under a canopy, complementing the regular street food markets.  The façade above the entrance would be brought forward to create additional space. All external landscaping, which is now attractively mature, will be unaltered.

In addition the Great Hall and its associated areas will be converted to retail on the ground floor.  New office space above would be let commercially to external organisations, improving income for the council.

From the end of March, while works are underway, the planning committee will move to Portslade Town Hall for up to 18 months.  Meetings will be webcast via the council’s website.  A hearing loop and full disabled access will be available.

The Local List

The local list is a list of buildings, parks and gardens considered to be of special interest, because of their local architectural/design, historic and/or townscape interest.  A call for nominations was held in 2013, and since then, over 500 nominations have been assessed against the selection criteria to produce a draft local list.

This list has now been published and can be viewed on the Council's website here.

A typical page

The Conservation Officer responsible has carried out a very thorough job and the result is a valuable register of the many buildings and other sites that help to establish the City's historic character.

An associated draft Planning Advice Note (PAN) has also been produced.  This provides further information on local listing, including the selection criteria, procedure for review and implications of local listing: Local listing does not provide extra legislative controls or protection for those buildings, parks and gardens included on the local list.  Permitted development rights are not affected. There is no additional control over changes which do not require planning permission or over internal changes.  As such, local listing is different to statutory listing at national level, which provides additional controls over changes to both the interior and exterior of the building.

However, the presence of a property on such a list does provide a signal to the owner of its importance in the townscape and when planning permission is required, that the special interest or ‘significance’ of the asset will be taken into account.

Comments are invited on the draft local list and draft PAN (But no new nominations). Assessments will only be reconsidered on the basis of new evidence which clearly shows how the asset does or does not meet the selection criteria.

A number of thematic surveys have also been undertaken as part of the review, including surveys of street lighting and letterboxes.  Due to the number of these two types of asset, selectivity is required.  Specific criteria have been produced in each case, and examples meeting the criteria will be added to the list when they are identified.  Only one example of an unlisted K6 (red) telephone kiosk has been identified in the city, and has been retained on the draft local list.

Examples of street lighting and letterboxes which meet the thematic criteria, or any further unlisted examples of K6 (red) telephone kiosks.  These should be submitted to the Heritage Team by email or letter, with an exact location, a short description and if possible also a photograph.

Coldean speed camera

Google view looking east

A speed camera is set to start enforcing the 30mph limit on Coldean Lane. This limit was cut from 40mph last June, and the camera, which has been in the street for many years, was covered over to enable drivers to get used to the change.

Now the cover has been removed and the camera adjusted for the new speed.

The speed limit was cut following a consultation locally about a 20mph speed limit. Fifty seven per cent of local residents supported the change from 40mph to 30mph.

The camera is intended to deter cars reaching dangerous speeds travelling down the hill. An early vehicle-activated sign warns if a car is exceeding the limit, and of the camera’s presence further on. So it should work.

Hannington Lane link back on agenda

It appears that a pedestrian link from North Street to the Hannington Lane development is now back on the agenda. The original proposals for such a link would have required demolition or substantial alteration of the 18thC. Timpson building in North Street. These proposals were dropped from planning application BH2013/00710 following the listing of the Timpson building. 

 

Listing of a property does not mean that it cannot be substantially altered, or even demolished, but rather that listed building consent has to be applied for, and then the local planning authority has to balance the property's historic significance against other issues such as its function, condition or viability. 

Western elevation of Puget's Cottage

It is understood that listed building consent in respect of Timpson and Puget's Cottage behind, will shortly be applied for by the Hannington Lane developers. This application will propose the demolition of  Timpson  and full external restoration of the older Puget's Cottage behind. By virtue of such works a footpath will be established from North Street to Hannington Lane which passes alongside the western elevation of Puget's Cottage. The footpath will be paved with period brick setts.

The Timpson building is in poor condition, has been substantially altered inside and what remains of its original structure may be hidden. Prior to any demolition, a full structural survey is proposed to record for posterity all details of historical significance.

The original proposal for the Timpson site showing the new footpath to the right.

Andy Durr

Last month Brighton lost a great Brightonian in Andy Durr. Labour Councillor and ex mayor of Brighton, University Lecturer,  Andy was more recently known as the founder of the Brighton Fishing Museum on the seafront where he spent much of his time.

I first met Andy when studying at Brighton Polytechnic whom Andy had been with since it was the Art School. He taught history on their M.A. in regional and local studies. Andy introduced me to much interesting local material, and inspired me to pursue my interests in this direction.

Andy was a down to earth character who combined a simple way of communicating with a bright intellect. He had much of his own education through trade unions and the labour movement, but was also a historian of design and saw much of his work as embracing Raymond Williams definition of culture, seeing the combination of the artistic and fishing quarter on the seafront as the realisation of a dream.

His funeral was attended by many people from all walks of life and political beliefs. His family and extensive network of friends will miss him as will the seafront.    

~ Trevor Hopper

trevhhopper@gmail.com