Hyde Housing Association will now start work on delivering the scheme designed by Brighton based Yelo Architects on the site of the old Bellerby’s College between Hove Recreation Ground and Hove Park on the Old Shoreham Road [see earlier story]

The construction phase will also provide a minimum of 16 full-time jobs for local people from a total workforce of about 80. There would also be around eight apprenticeships provided by Hyde as part of an onsite skills centre.

Thirty flats will be affordable homes for local people, five of them being fully wheelchair accessible. The remainder would be available on the open market. In total there will be 26 one bed flats, 29 two-beds and 16 three-beds. Every property will have either a generous 6 sq metre balcony or a garden and there will be 71 underground parking spaces, each with electric vehicle charging points.

Located next to Hove Park, a key aspect of the scheme will be landscaping by Brighton’s Chelsea Flower Show award-winner Nicholas Dexter.

Hyde will contribute £35,000 towards training, skills and local employment, £180,000 to improve local parks and open spaces, and almost £140,000 towards local schools. There would be a further £53,000 to enhance sustainable transport in the area.

Approval follows the council producing a specific planning brief for the site in consultation with local residents. Two previous applications, made in 2008 and 2009, were refused and subsequent appeals dismissed by the government.

Chair of the planning committee Cllr. Phelim MacCafferty said, “It’s great to get a real breakthrough for this site, which has been a concern for residents for many years. I welcome this sustainable scheme which fits the location and which will provide vital homes and jobs for local people.

Councillors voted six to four in favour of the plans with two abstentions.