Planning Secured for College Place, Brighton
We are proud to announce that we have successfully secured full planning permission for the redevelopment of College Place, Brighton, within the historic East Cliff Conservation Area of Kemptown.
This carefully considered scheme transforms a disused, backland site previously occupied by outdated garages and a small industrial workshop, into a discreet, mews-style development comprising three sustainable new homes.
A Sensitive Urban Infill
Nestled behind College Place and accessed via a listed undercroft, the 198sqm site is largely concealed from public view. The approved scheme replaces low-quality commercial structures with two 2-bedroom family houses and one 1-bedroom home, delivering high-quality accommodation in a tight urban setting without compromising privacy, amenity, or heritage value.
Designed as a contemporary take on the traditional coach house, the development sits modestly within the surrounding Victorian terraces, with a scale and massing deliberately reduced to address both site constraints and local feedback.
Key Features
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2 × 2-bedroom, 3-person homes
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1 × 1-bedroom, 2-person home
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Contemporary mews design with white brick façades, timber detailing, and slimline aluminium windows
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Discreet chalk grassland green roofs, increasing biodiversity and softening views from surrounding upper storeys
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Private patios and rear courtyards, maximising amenity and daylight while preserving neighbour privacy
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No street-facing impact, ensuring the character of the conservation area is preserved
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Sustainable and efficient, with high insulation, water-efficient systems, and bicycle storage provision
Designed for Context and Sustainability
This small but significant project is the result of extensive design development, community consultation, and close attention to planning feedback. Notably, it responds directly to a previous appeal decision by reducing the building height, footprint, and visual impact, achieved by subtly lowering the buildings into the site and reconfiguring layouts to improve privacy for neighbours.
Environmental performance and occupant wellbeing are at the core of the design strategy. From chalk grassland roofs and natural ventilation to low-VOC materials, efficient heating, and maximised daylighting, the scheme is an exemplar of sustainable urban infill.
A Welcome Addition to Kemptown
Despite being constrained by its surroundings, this underused backland plot now has the opportunity to deliver much-needed homes in a highly sustainable, design-led way. By replacing industrial usage with sensitively designed housing, the development supports the continued evolution of Kemptown while celebrating its historic character.
We’re excited to move forward with the next phase of this project and contribute to the rich urban fabric of Brighton with a scheme that demonstrates how modest, well-designed housing can positively transform overlooked spaces.
