The new application is for the full complement of 751 homes, 276 of which will be affordable. The P&R amendment committed the developer to work with the local authority to find an alternative site for a “meaningful” proportion of the homes.

Alan McCarthy - Chief Executive of the Brighton & Hove Council – has said that the Council is still committed to the ammendment but the developer Karis/ING, whilst remaining open to suggestions, has expressed doubt that an appropriate ‘alternative site’ can be found in the city.

The application is expected to go before the planning committee before the end of the year.

ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP COMMENT

To say that the city is not exactly awash with vacant brownfield sites waiting to be developed is more than just an understatement. We have a very limited number of sites in total and the majority of the brownfield sites have already been developed.

Others are either earmarked for alternative uses in the Local Plan or, like the Preston Barracks site, have a substantial amount of residential already included in emerging mixed use plans and don’t have the capacity for ‘add ons’ from the King Alfred.

Also, because the local authority is squeezing such exceptional value from the developer (£80m of direct community benefit from a site worth £11m), it is important that the homes are built on a site that will deliver sufficient value to enable the rest of the scheme.

Frank Gehry designed housing on the seafront will command a premium. Housing at Preston Barracks, or anywhere else for that matter, will not come close.