School loses appeal over boarding house plan – Brighton and Hove News

Brighton: A proposed boarding house for 27 students at Brighton College has been denied. The school wanted to combine three houses on Walpole Road. They already house 18 students in those properties.

The council rejected the planning application in July 2023. They said the plan would overcrowd the site. The bedrooms were also deemed too small for the number of students.

When the school appealed, the council argued that the proposed occupancy was excessive. They noted that the three houses could reasonably hold about 12 people. The plan would more than double that number.

The council also mentioned that merging the properties would change the character of the street. Brighton College stated that they could reverse some of the changes already made to the properties.

The school’s planning agent argued that student movement would be managed. They believed the increase in students wouldn’t harm the neighborhood. However, over 80 people objected to the appeal.

Planning inspector Robin Buchanan noted potential noise issues from the communal garden. He also expressed concerns about the impact on local residents and the quality of living conditions for students. He emphasized the need for satisfactory outcomes in new developments.