The Preston Road School

The Preston Road school building of 1880 by Thomas Simpson occupies a prominent corner site and lies on one of the main routes into the city. Its steep roofs, flamboyant pedimented gables and tall chimneys are a notable feature of the skyline and the school contributes positively to the setting of the grade II* listed viaduct of 1846-46, which is built of similar brick. The school was locally listed in 2015. 

Planning application BH2017/01083 proposes conversion to 25 flats of one, two and three bedrooms, all with mezzanine floors. Rooflights will be inserted in the existing tile roof to extend the accommodation area into the loft. A rear infill extension will be inserted at first floor level. Other associated works include cycle and bin store, new pedestrian access to the building, communal garden space and associated landscaping. The development is to be car-free with cycle parking only; residents are to be forbidden parking permits.

Locally-based Yeo Architects seem well apprised of the building's heritage value. The Heritage Statement recommends retention of the best original features of the building and elimination of subsequent excrescences. An existing later building to rear of property will be demolished. Iron railings in the style of the originals are to be installed at the front & side of the property A cobble wall at the rear of the property, which predates the school, is to be restored.

Madeira Terraces - public appeal

A crowdfunding page to kick-start the repair and regeneration of a section of the Madeira Terraces will launch on 26 July 2017. BHCC has already met with local businesses who have pledged to support the campaign through a series of activities that include offering discounts and organising fundraising events.

The aim of the campaign is to raise an initial target of around £400k from public pledges with £100k confirmed on 13 July at the council’s Policy Resources and Growth Committee as the council’s contribution to the target.  After this initial target has been reached, other revenue streams such as a Heritage Lottery funding and Coast to Capital Local Enterprise Partnership grants will also be sought. The money raised will be used to begin work to transform two of arches along Madeira Drive.  Restoration costs for all 151 arches are estimated at £24m.

The campaign will be led by the city’s official tourist destination unit, VisitBrighton who already work with over 540 local businesses to promote the city as a destination to both leisure and conference visitors and has a strong social media presence throughout the UK and abroad.

For more information about the Madeira Terraces crowdfunding campaign https://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/content/press-release/people-power-called-upon-help-save-madeira-terraces

Help to create a clean beach bonanza.

BHCC’s Seafront Team has joined the #2minutebeachclean campaign, alongside several local businesses. The initiative was launched on 5 June to mark World Environment Day.

The #2minutebeachclean is a simple campaign to provide beachgoers with the opportunity to ‘do their bit’ for the beach they love, encouraging them to spend two minutes picking up litter before beginning their journey home.

To increase awareness of the fate of the beaches and oceans, people are encouraged to take photos of themselves cleaning the beach and upload them to social media sites using the hashtag #2minutebeachclean,

Four distinctive #2minutebeachclean A-boards have been placed along the busy seafront, with local businesses as official ‘guardians’.

The stations hold several litter pickers for public use and a supply of standard reused supermarket plastic bags which can be dropped into any council waste bins.

You can find them at: 

• The Seafront Office
• The World Cetacean Alliance (just east of the Palace Pier)
• Molly’s Coffee shop at Rottingdean Beach
• British Airways i360

​Three of the A-boards on the seafront have been funded in a joint initiative by the council, Surfers Against Sewage and local sustainable design studio Claire Potter Design. The fourth guardian of a #2minutebeachclean board is British Airways i360, where staff are keen to encourage people to keep the beach tidy.

The #2minutebeachclean campaign was founded in 2014 by writer, surfer and beach lover Martin Dorey who lives in Bude, Cornwall.
The first beach clean station was set up at Crooklets beach in Bude. Since then more than 200 beach clean stations have been set up across the UK and Ireland.
Local businesses interested in becoming a guardian or sponsoring a #2minutebeachclean station can contact Charles at the Seafront Office on 01273 292716.

For more information about the #2minutebeachclean campaign, visit www.beachclean.net. And at plasticfreepledge.com, an initiative has been launched by Claire Potter Design for businesses in the city to reduce reliance on single use plastics, supported by the Seafront Office.

UK's Most Entrepreneurial City

According to a survey carried out by Instant Offices, Brighton takes the top spot for Most Entrepreneurial City in the UK with London only coming 12th.

John Williams, Head of Marketing at Instant Offices says “I can understand the appeal of Brighton and the south coast of England. It is a bit of an antidote to the hustle and bustle of the capital while possessing a strong, creative industry and really appealing to business owners and workers seeking a more relaxed alternative to London. We have seen record demand for office space in Brighton and also a large increase in the number of operators trying to set up space in the city to cater for its growing business community.”

19/20 The Square, Patcham - update

The cottages in 2008

2017. The nearer cottage has been rebuilt. The furthest one has been restored.

A new single-storey dwelling has been added at the north-east end of the plot

Landscaping has evidently yet to be carried out.

See also: 19/20 The Square, Patcham.