This shell of a building has been like this for over 20 years.
I first knew it as an 'Adult Education Centre', where people with learning difficulties went to spend their days, whilst learning life skills.
I suppose it was our Council who closed it down. It was then sold to a property company who stripped it down to its carcass, with the intention of making it into flats. It has remained as you see it (above) ever since.
The building is in a very expensive and fashionable area of central Brighton, which has a very strict 'Conservation Area' policy. It was a hideous building when it was still being used, and it's even more hideous since its semi-demolition.
I've witnessed several very inappropriate buildings go up since I first started living in Brighton back in 1985, and I always wondered what 'Conservation Area' really means. I somehow imagined that it meant that everything, new and old, should be in keeping with the area's age, style, etc. We cannot replace old wooden windows with UPVC ones, for example.
So, I looked it up, and this is what I found.
A conservation area is a protected area with special architectural or historic interest that's designated by the local planning authority. The purpose of a conservation area is to preserve or enhance the area's character, appearance, or setting.
Well, that's what I'd thought too. So how come some really awful buildings pass the scrutiny of the Planning Authority? I know of one row of identical modern houses that look like shipping containers. Really awful, and built right in front of a very smart and expensive Victorian terrace.
One can only imagine that 'Conservation Area' is ignored when convenient!
There should be some kind of legal process whereby owners of buildings like the one you have highlighted are required to finish schemes within say eighteen months. Too many investors just sit on property waiting for months and years to pass thereby raising the value of their investments.
ReplyDeleteI was expecting builders to already have begun work on the one above, but somehow I expect it'll remain as it is for ages. As you say, there ought to be a 'statute of limitations' over building period, or it becomes council property. That'd get them moving!
DeleteIt seems like Brighton Council said affordable flats had to be built and taken on by a housing association. They sat and waited and waited but no housing asociation was interested. Now the developer says because of the time delay affordable housing is no longer possible and so there is another delay while Brighton Council decide whether to give the go ahead or not. I saw this in your local paper, the Argos.
ReplyDeleteOh dear. That sounds typical of both the developers and the council. They always seem to be working against each other. Rayner has her work cut out!
DeleteOver here it was said that such things were the result of handing over little brown envelopes.
ReplyDeleteThe row of 'containers' I mentioned involved a councillor being given £500,000 to repair a wall, before he sold the land to a developer. I asked a question about it at a meeting; but got nowhere.
DeletePlanning Law used to be my speciality. Sometimes it doesn't matter how much a council tries to enforce things against developers they always seem to have deeper pockets provided the profit from delay is greater than the any penalties they may face..
ReplyDeleteThat, sadly, seems to be the case. It is often more profitable to do nothing, than to build.
DeleteIt looks just like an eyesore above our harbour. It was stopped over 20 years ago by neighbours who said it blocked their view. Now it spoils the view of everyone approaching the island from the sea. It should at least be painted white. How they ever got permission for such a large house I don't know.
ReplyDeleteYours should be torn down!
I think it SHOULD be torn down, and get someone to start again from scratch. If someone uses the footprint that already exists, it will always look as ugly as before.
DeleteI am sure that a few backhanders result in many of the ugly buildings being given planning permission. One that I can never understand are some awful 60's monstrosities that were allowed very near to the left of Buckingham Palace .... it ruins the whole skyline XXXX
ReplyDeleteI have personal experience of it happening, and when I asked questions at a big council meeting, I was told all was OK.
DeleteIt's snowing here!
That building looks hazardous and dangerous. How does the owner get away with doing nothing about it?
ReplyDelete