Protests against gasworks site in Brighton
Campaign mounts against gasworks site development
Protesters in Brighton and Hove are planning on taking to the streets this evening, upset about pans to turn a former gasworks site into 495 new homes and shops.
More than 1,700 objections have been lodged since Berkeley Homes subsidiary St William submitted plans to redevelop the former Brighton Gasworks.
Despite objections, the development will be considered by the city council at a special meeting on 22 May.
Protests are due to be held this evening (9 May) in Roedean Road, opposite the site, starting at 6pm.
The plans sparked the Action on Gasworks Housing Safety, Affordability and Transparency (AGHAST) campaign by residents concerned about contamination and toxic chemicals released from the site during the building process.
AGHAST member Stephen White said: “We believe this is a vast overdevelopment for this small, contaminated site.
“Most local residents are extremely concerned about the threat to their health that it poses because when you dig this whole contamination up it goes out into the air, gases escape. You can’t stop them.
“We know from all the experiences from other people of similar gasworks sites that have been developed that there have been major problems with their health, streaming eyes and noses, breathing difficulties, nausea, vomiting even. It’s really not a pleasant thing.
“This is going to go on for 10 years.”
Objections to the current application have also come in from various community and conservation groups including Brighton and Hove Heritage Commission, Regency Squares Community, Kemp Town Society, the Brighton Society and the Kingscliff Society.
Developer St William said:
“We believe that bringing well-connected brownfield sites back into use is the most sustainable way to meet housing needs and reduces pressure to build out into the countryside.”
A grant from Homes England, a government agency, would ensure that 40 per cent of the homes would be classed as “affordable”. Of these, 115 would be for rent and the remaining 111 in shared ownership.