Brighton and Hove News »Redesign of Hove cricket ground obtains building permit

A multi-million pound redevelopment of Hove County was approved by councilors this afternoon (Wednesday, March 4).

Plans include the demolition of the now closed Sussex Cricketer pub on Eaton Road and the construction of a nine-storey building with a pub-restaurant on the ground floor.

Councilors are concerned that the planning request submitted by Sussex Cricket did not include affordable housing.

Instead, the cricket club has offered to dedicate nearly 900,000 people to affordable housing elsewhere in Brighton and Hove.

The 37 apartments as well as the commercial premises and the parking lot constitute the first phase of four in a project which, according to Sussex Cricket, would guarantee the future of the match at Hove.

The planning committees of the Brighton and Hove city councils have granted permission to prepare detailed plans for the first and second phases of the project.

The committee also outlined the permission for the third and fourth phases of the plans.

Once the apartments and the restaurant pub are built, the cricket club intends to demolish offices and part of the south-west represents the second phase of the program.

In their place, the club plans to create a new reception space, with a reception and business space.

Among those concerned about the lack of affordable housing were labor counselors Daniel Yates and Nick Childs.

Councilor Yates said he was unaware that the council was investing in cricket clubs rather than houses.

And Councilor Childs said: It is a political decision of the council to subsidize the cricket club.

He said a compromise between the club and officials seemed to cost six houses that could have housed more than a dozen people.

Conservative Councilor Joe Miller said: I appreciate the concerns of other councilors about affordable housing, but the sport benefit has a huge public benefit.

I would like a firm commitment from the applicant to request external funding.

Planning consultant Chris Barker of ECE Planning said the club would seek as much funding as possible from the English Cricket Board as it was currently facing a $ 4 million deficit.

But the English Cricket Board expected bids totaling around 200 million for a pot of 50 million.

Mr Barker told the planning committee of Hove City Hall: The club will ask for as much funding as possible.

However, this funding is shared among 18 first-class cricket clubs.

The committee also asked Sussex Cricket to make nearly 300,000 developer contributions. These would fund, among other things, improvements to local bus stops, sidewalks and a bike center.

Sussex Cricketer before boarding

Green Councilor Leo Littman said he was concerned about the project but voted for it.

He said: I know the pub very well and I would prefer that there be a final arrangement for a pub rather than a pub restaurant.

I support the need for community sport and, overall, it is a very good app.

The Planning Committee voted seven to three in favor of granting a planning permit for the project.

Sussex Cricket Chief Executive Officer Rob Andrew said: The County Ground has been based in Hove for almost 150 years and we are delighted that this allows us to secure our future here and continue to deliver our far-reaching community programs to across Sussex.

We would like to thank our club members, our neighbors, local businesses, amenity and conservation groups as well as the South East Design Panel and council officers for their significant contribution to our plans.

Sussex Cricket said it has mandated local award-winning firm ECE Architecture to create the plans, which are expected to attract 20 million capital investments and create 153 jobs.