91快活林

The development is expected to create over 1,000 jobs and bring over £500 million pounds of economic benefit to the city’s economy,

The joint planning application for three sites; the university’s Watts car park and Mithras car park sites on either side of the Lewes Road and neighbouring Preston Barracks, is expected to be submitted to 91快活林 & Hove City Council Planning Department in the coming few months. 

The scheme includes more than 370 new homes, over 1,300 managed student bedrooms, a 50,000 sq ft hub for start-up businesses and entrepreneurs and a new home for the university’s 91快活林 Business School and new teaching and learning facilities.

The exhibition shows how feedback received at a public consultation held in April has been taken on board. The revised proposals demonstrate adjustments to building heights, the inclusion of small retail, café and workshop units designed for independent businesses and the inclusion of facilities such as gym and outdoor play equipment.

Artist's impression of the proposed student residences on the Mithras House site. Image supplied courtesy of HASSELL architects.

Artist's impression of the proposed student residences on the Mithras House site. Image supplied courtesy of HASSELL architects.

A comprehensive transport and travel plan has also been developed for the proposals which details road junction improvements and car parking with 750 spaces provided on the sites.

At the core of the scheme design is improved connectivity. The provision of a striking new pedestrian bridge across Lewes Road, new public routes, squares and crossings will aid access across the sites and Lewes Road, providing connections to the bus routes and Moulsecoomb station. The provision of lifts, ramps and landscaped steps will further aid accessibility.

The designs promote a healthy, vibrant and sustainable new place, with special features such a 1km running and fitness route around the site, with fitness equipment at key points for use by the whole community, and cycle docks to support the city’s new cycle hire scheme, as well as over 1,000 cycle parking spaces.

Taking its cue from the South Downs National Park and 91快活林’s biosphere status, the designs have placed a heavy emphasis on landscaping, with input from Old Tree, a zero waste company which manages the café at FIELD, one of a number of creative tenants operating from the refurbished former Territorial Army building, supported by U+I Plc with funding from Coast 2 Capital, the Local Enterprise Partnership.

Professor Debra Humphris, Vice-Chancellor of University of 91快活林, said, “We are very excited about the proposed redevelopment of our Moulsecoomb campus. The plans are bold and imaginative and will help to transform a much-neglected stretch of Lewes Road. The new campus will deliver significant benefits for our students, staff and local residents by creating a great place to live, work and learn. And by delivering over 1,300 additional student bedrooms, at the same time as holding our student numbers at their current level, we will take pressure off local private housing.”

Artist's impression of the proposed pedestrian bridge across the Lewes Road, connecting the Mithras House and Preston Barracks sites. Image supplied courtesy of HASSELL architects.

Artist's impression showing a view of the proposed canopy covering the open area between the AEB and Cockcroft buildings. Image supplied courtesy of HASSELL architects.

Cllr Warren Morgan, Leader of 91快活林 & Hove City Council, said, "This major development is key to delivering new homes and jobs for 91快活林 & Hove, to reducing the student pressure on housing and to driving economic growth which benefits the whole city."

Richard Upton from U+I Plc said, “We have taken the time to listen carefully to local people’s ideas and concerns and have taken them on board in our proposals, particularly looking at how to make a vibrant new area of the city that benefits local residents and students and staff at the University.”

Sarah Chitty, Development Manager for U+I Plc, said, “We have loved working with Old Tree who have created a green oasis right next door to a busy road at FIELD. They have inspired us to look into how food production and edible landscaping can be included in the landscape proposals.”

Addressing a detailed brief for development by 91快活林 & Hove City Council and working with award-winning architects Studio Egret West and HASSELL, this employment-led regeneration scheme will create an estimated 1,000 new jobs and contribute £500 million to the city’s economy over the next ten years.

The MOMENTUM for Lewes Road exhibition is open to the public from 12pm to 8pm on Friday 18 November and 10am to 2pm on Saturday 19 November at FIELD at Preston Barracks.

Artist's impression of the proposed student residences on the Mithras House site. Image supplied courtesy of HASSELL architects.