95 affordable flats and a community room near Brighton race course. Roof terraces, playground, underground car park, local square and pedestrian route.
I was asked to look at this project after the original version was refused planning permission. This redesign proved popular with planning officers and councils, and with residents since. It would not have been possible without an enlightened and highly driven client in Liz Hills from Southern Housing Group, a resourceful and professional local contractor in Denne, a supportive and wise partner in Graeme Hawkins, and a crack team of architects who loved and knew what we were aiming for. To lead that team to completion was the greatest professional privilege. With Miller Bourne Architects, completed in 2013.
The tenure was divided between affordable rent and shared ownership.
The project was built to Code 4 Sustainable Homes standard. I did a report comparing construction and site with Feilden Clegg’s “1 Brighton” which had some more advanced features, but was in a similar zone for thermal standards, renewables and biodiversity.
The project won the Evening Standard New Homes Award for the Best Affordable Housing Project in the South-East, in 2014.