Public inquiry to begin into gasworks plan refusal

A public inquiry is due to begin after controversial plans to build hundreds of homes on Brighton's former gasworks site were refused last year.

The £280m scheme in East Sussex would have seen 495 homes, including 11 blocks of flats up to 12 storeys high, built on land at the junction of Marina Way and Roedean Road.

Brighton & Hove City Council rejected the plans, saying it would be be too large, cramped, prove harmful to the area's historic heritage and contain too few family homes.

The eight-day inquiry, which will take place at Brighton Town Hall, has come after the "disappointed" developer, St William, announced it would appeal the decision.

When the application was first made in May 2024, councillors had been advised to grant planning permission with a request that developers made "reasonable endeavours" to provide affordable housing be made.

However, the committee voiced concerns about St William's "airy fairy" proposal to sell 40% of the homes to Sovereign Housing Association.

Campaigners opposed to the former gasworks development also submitted more than 1,700 objections and held a demonstration.

Concerned about toxins being released into the atmosphere during building they cited "the experiences of other people near similar sites where there have been major problems with health, streaming eyes and noses, breathing difficulties and even vomiting."

Having announced its plan to appeal, St William - part of the £5bn Berkeley Group - was informed by the Planning Inspectorate in November that an inspector had been appointed and that the process would take the form of a public inquiry.

A spokesperson for the developer previously said it had "worked closely with the planning and design team at the council over the last four years to develop a balanced and high-quality proposal".

They said the "carefully designed plans" were "the most sustainable way to meet housing needs and reduces pressure to build out into the countryside".

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