Mixed Use Development Revealed for Brighton

Following on from the recent approval of a mixed-use student accommodation in Central Brighton, McLaren Property has revealed what can be expected from the scheme.

Positioned within Brighton’s regeneration area, the development will see the replacement of an outdated building with new sustainable retail units and student accommodation.

McLaren Property will be working along with Morgan Carn Architects and engineering consultancy Howard Ward Associates (HWA) to help deliver the new five-storey building, which will have 156 student bedrooms, a new reception area as well as communal interior and exterior spaces.

The installation of new retail units will be on the ground floor of the development, presenting an entirely refreshed shop front which holds prominent position amongst London Road’s high street stores.

It will part of the New England Quarter and London Road Development Area, where regeneration is actively encouraged by Brighton and Hove City Council, and the new shceme will see the former Marks and Spencer site completely regenerated.

As part of the environmentally friendly design, the building will achieve a BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) rating of ‘Excellent’ and will feature solar panels on a green roof.

Further sustainable features include air source heat pumps as its primary heat source and planted outdoor spaces – including trees – which will be maintained using recycled rainwater. The development will also be car-free and have cycle route access and storage spaces

The new purpose-built London Road development could also free up some of the many former family homes that have been converted into HMOs to house students, potentially allowing local residents to stay in Brighton and attracting new house hunters to the area.

Midlands-based HWA has been appointed to provide structural engineering to the project, with construction due to begin in mid 2022.

Dan Bailey, Director at HWA, said: “We are really pleased to be working with McLaren on the London Road development following planning approval – transforming what is currently an inefficient and underutilised site into much-needed student accommodation and fresh new retail units.

“The site presents a great opportunity to enhance the local area and contribute dramatically to the ongoing regeneration efforts on both sides of the site. We have been involved with the planning and design for this build since the beginning, working with McLaren Property, to provide our civil and structural engineering expertise to this scheme through the pre purchase and pre planning project stages.”

David Atherton, Development Director at McLaren Property, said: “We are very excited about the potential for this development – to contribute positively towards the regeneration of this important area within the city.

“Removal of the existing building means Providence Place Square can finally become a welcoming and successful inner city green space to be used by local residents. Students contribute vitally to the local economy and by occupying purpose-built student accommodation rather than HMOs, there is an opportunity to free up those local houses to local families.

“High quality design is at the heart of every project that we undertake and McLaren Property, together with our consultant team, is committed to delivering buildings that help drive positive change.”

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