Labour’s opposition spokesperson on Planning, Cllr Nick Childs, wrote in Brighton & Hove News this week about a recent successful planning appeal. Here’s an excerpt:

The outcome of the planning appeal hearing, held before Christmas, that rejected the proposal to impose a 94-unit seven-floor monolith on to the community in Cromwell Road, Hove, was a real victory for our city.

It was also a vindication for the hundreds of local people, Labour ward councillors Jackie O’Quinn and John Allcock – and Peter Kyle MP – who have campaigned tirelessly for quality housing in the ward rather than the dull and unimaginative tower blocks attempted.

The planning inspector agreed with the formal motion put by Councillor Fishleigh, Councillor Theobald and I, along with a majority of the council’s Planning Committee in September 2020, that the proposal was inappropriate in scale and design for the area…

…The proposal felt like an insult to our city because it was.

We desperately need new housing but we must not make the mistakes, albeit well-intentioned, of the permissiveness of 1960s and 70s urban planning.

We must instead ensure that we create high-quality, beautiful and sustainable buildings and places… That will add to our communities, not wreck them…

To read Cllr Childs’ column in full, click here.