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***Note on the proposed developments: While BVP welcome the restoration of the ecology to the south of the Hangleton Lane (though with some provisos and questions) and to the north of the site, as well as the renovation of the barn and its garden for a community space, we have always felt that we should not have to sacrifice sections of our precious green spaces, and therefore the overall ecological health of the city as a UNESCO biosphere, in order to do this.
We have said since the start that BHCC must find a way to return the site to public stewardship so that we may apply for grants from bodies such as the Heritage Lottery Fund, which could be used to restore and enhance the site, including the barn and its garden, for community use. ***
How to Contest the Development
Go to this link: https://planningapps.brighton-hove.gov.uk/online-applications/ and enter the reference numbers in order to comment on each application:
BH2024/01720 - Housing development application
BH2024/01721 - Barn renovation
Look through any of the documents that you think most closely link with your concerns for the site. We have been most closely focused on the ecology and sustainability documents and will release our thoughts on these in due course along with link to specific sections to read through
Go to ‘comments’ section
Click on ‘make a comment’ and register for an account if you don’t already have one. Then return to the ‘make a comment’ section
Check your personal details
In ‘stance’ click on the ‘object’ circle
In ‘reason for comment’ tick the box/es which most closely explains your reasons for objecting.
Complete the ‘comments’ box: If you are objecting (which we hope you will!), please state this as part of your comment e.g. ‘I strongly object to the proposed housing development as detailed in application BH2024/01720. My reasons for objecting to the proposals are as follows:....’
Click on submit
Reasons to Contest the Development
Ecology:
The Benfield Valley is one of the last remaining fragments of chalk grassland, of which there is only 2% remaining in the South Downs. Mitigation for this alone would not be possible.
The valley is home to a number of species of mammals, reptiles, invertebrates and birds, many of which are on red or amber conservation lists. Inhabitants include Badgers, European Hedgehogs, Dormice, Brown Hairstreak Butterflies, Buzzards, Kestrels, Songthrush, Common Lizards, Slow Worms. In a meeting with Hollybrook Homes, their ecologist told us that 'the reptiles to the south of the Hangelton Lane will all be safe' but said nothing about those to the north. Our hope would be that, should the development go ahead, all reptiles would be translocated and closely monitored to ensure their survival.
Dormice, one of the most threatened species in the UK, live in the valley - both north and south of the Hangleton Lane. Brighton & Hove is a stronghold for them and their habitats must be under the highest possible protections. From the Dormouse survey:
Section 4.2: ‘The majority of the application site area was covered by either mixed scrub, bramble scrub, or broadleaved woodland, all of which were considered suitable to support dormice within the site. Much of this habitat will be cleared as part of the proposed development.’;
Section 4.6: ‘Due to the confirmed presence of dormice and likely impact on this species through the loss of suitable habitat, a European Protected Species Mitigation (EPSM) Licence for dormice will need to be obtained from Natural England and mitigation will need to be carried out as part of the proposed development.’
There are a number of recommendations in the ‘Recommendations’ section - see 4.3 onwards.
If interested, please also see ‘Compensatory and Enhanced Habitat’ section
Landscape fragmentation: this is one of the leading causes of wildlife decline in the UK and is caused by the overdevelopment of our green spaces.
Pressure on our already fragile aquifer: Our drinking water comes from under the ground, we must ensure it’s protected and not polluted by development.
Traffic and air quality monitoring: with 100 dwellings comes increased cars. The area to the south of the valley is an existing Air Quality Monitoring Area (AQMA). With the removal of a number of trees and a section of chalk grassland, plus increased congestion, a plan for mitigation for this is crucial. The developers gave us no answers as to how this would be managed past ‘we will monitor air quality’ and ‘we will encourage people to travel sustainably.’
Local infrastructure:
Parking: the developers have outlined that the housing would be a mixture of flats and family homes. Parking facilities would only be available to those in the houses, as each house would have a parking space outside. All residents of the flats would need to park ‘in surrounding roads.’ This will put pressure on an already congested residential area.
Increased pressure on medical centres and dentists.
Increased flooding risk eg. run-off from more hard surfaces, added strain on the city’s already overwhelmed drainage system.
Public transport links
Sustainable development: In order for any development to be truly sustainable and fit-for-purpose now and in the future, plans must include the use of air-source heat pumps (where alternatives are suggested gas boilers should be off-limits entirely), installation of solar panels, green roofs, swift bricks, bee blocks, electric vehicle charging points, secure bike racks. Without these, properties will not safeguard communities against the climate crisis we are facing. Hollybrook Homes have said that homes will be heated with air source heat pumps and PV panels. For those interested, HH have said that there will be no heat network created.
Building on BV will not alleviate housing issues in Brighton & Hove. We feel it’s important for any questions raised around the housing crisis to be done so with the full knowledge of what BHCC planning officers have allowed to happen in the city.
Around 1 in 30 residential properties in the city are currently empty or used for Airbnbs. There are currently no sanctions for landlords leaving properties empty or purchasing properties solely for holiday lets.
The most recent development at Sackville Road - a development with more than 700 properties - contains only rental properties meant for London commuters. No extra parking has been provided (residents will be encouraged to travel sustainably - great if people actually do, not so great if they come with cars), and the lowest rental cost is £1,700pcm for a one-bedroom flat.
Previous BHCC administrations have created the housing problem by not prioritising social and (truly) affordable housing. Buyers have come from outside of the city due to lack of affordability for local buyers and this has placed greater strain on the city’s existing infrastructure, which has not been adapted in line with the increased population.
Due to the rapidly decreasing birth rate in B&H, the site at Toad’s Hole Valley (THV) has had 200 extra dwellings approved by BHCC in place of the originally-proposed school. These dwellings were approved after the adoption of the CPP2. This is double the allocation proposed at BV and so any development of the valley is no longer necessary in order to hit B&H housing targets. Instead, funding the enhancement and restoration of BV as a local wildlife site could be used as a way of achieving the city’s biodiversity net gain targets, thereby helping to mitigate the damage done to THV. Furthermore, two local schools (St. Batholomew's and St Peter's) have recently been closed due to low numbers and these (brownfield) sites could be used for housing.
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