30 flats at 9 - 12 St Catherines Terrace, Hove
Summary of planning committee decision
Decided by Brighton And Hove Planning Committee on 2 Jul 2025.
No officer report was published for this decision; this summary is from the committee minutes.
What was proposed
The application was for full planning permission, with the original 36 flats reduced by six to create 30 duplex units.
“Councillor Winder was informed that the basement area had been increased, the flats originally proposed for basement only were now split level and covered the ground floor and basement. The agent stated that the original 36 flats had been reduced by 6 to 30 with duplex units. The light assessment considered the basement met standards.”
Minutes
The site and access
The existing building was described as derelict, the site is in a controlled parking zone, and nearby disabled parking spaces exist.
“Councillor Shanks was informed that the were no objections from highways and the site was in the Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ). An informative was added to allow the restriction of permits. The Principal Transport Development Officer noted that planning reports no longer came with a permit free condition, this was now covered by an informative. There is no second homes policy in the city.”
“Councillor Theobald was informed that there would be a cycle store and while no bin store was shown, it would be secured via a planning condition. In addition, street bins in the surrounding area are available to use. The disabled access flats will be on the ground floor and there are existing disabled parking spaces nearby. The development will have sprinklers throughout, and Building Control will check this.”
Minutes
Earlier use and changes
Members referred to protests against a previous hostel, while the proposal was amended by removing six flats and increasing the basement area.
“Councillor Shanks stated there had been protests against the previous hostel, so it was good to see the development. An affordable housing contribution less than the cost of one flat was not good and the national government should look into viability.”
Minutes
Affordable housing contribution
The viability assessment identified £239,000 as the residual affordable housing contribution, which members considered too low but potentially increasing after review.
“Councillor Loughran was informed that the affordable housing figures were updated usually every year, and index linked and £239,000 was the residual amount left over to contribute to affordable housing as set out in the viability assessment.”
“Councillor Cattell considered the current building was derelict and the proposals would be attractive in the street scene. The £239,000 would be put towards other affordable housing schemes and buying back council housing. The councillor wanted to move away from private sector building towards affordable housing.”
Minutes
What members discussed
Members considered the design, accommodation standards, parking, viability figures and the need to increase affordable housing provision.
“Councillor Theobald considered affordable housing would be good, the building looked good from the front and some parking would have been nice. The proposals are considered to be a high standard of accommodation. The councillor was in two minds about the application.”
Minutes
The committee vote
The committee unanimously agreed to grant planning permission.
“A Vote was taken, and the committee agreed unanimously to grant planning permission.”
Minutes
The decision
The committee was minded to grant permission subject to a legal agreement, conditions and informatives, with refusal authorised if the agreement was not completed by 24 September 2025.
“GRANT planning permission subject to a s106 agreement on the Heads of Terms set out below and the following Conditions and Informatives as set out hereunder, SAVE THAT should the s106 Planning Obligation not be completed on or before 24 th…”
“September 2025 the Head of Planning is hereby authorised to refuse planning permission for the reasons set out in section 12 of the report.”
Minutes
Sources
- Brighton And Hove Planning Committee minutes, 2 July 2025
- Agenda and papers (council website)
Source: Plota analysis of Brighton And Hove's committee minutes. Quotations are the council's own words; headings and summaries are Plota's.
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See the API →At the meeting
- Committee
- Brighton And Hove Planning Committee
- Council
- Brighton And Hove
- Date
- Wednesday 2 July 2025
- Committee decided
- Approved
- Vote
- Unanimous
- Minutes
- The council's minutes
- Meeting
- Agenda and papers (council website)
- Application
- The application (council website)
- All decisions
- Brighton And Hove committee decisions →
This committee's year
19 decisions in the 12 months to this meeting, 1 against officer advice.
Source: Plota analysis of the committee's minutes.