Student housing block next to Amex gets go ahead

An artist's impression of how the new student accommodation block will look

Plans to build a student village in a car park by Brighton & Hove Albion's Amex Stadium in East Sussex have been given the go ahead at appeal.

In a decision notice published last week, a planning inspector approved proposals to build a 555 bedroom complex at the former Bennett’s Field car park, adjacent to the Amex Stadium.

The scheme had been refused planning permission in October 2022, with Lewes District Council planning officers raising concerns about its “substantial height, bulk and unsympathetic design”.

But the inspectors decided they were "not persuaded" the building’s design would harm the area.

Lewes District Council had claimed the development would have an impact on both the character of the immediate area and the South Downs National Park (SDNP).

But inspectors ruled its "curvilinear" design responded positively to the Amex Stadium in a way other nearby buildings do not.

In the decision notice the inspector said: “I have found the development would not harm the character and appearance of the area, the setting of the SDNP, nor conflict with the dark skies policy of the SDNP, and would preserve the setting of all the designated heritage assets in the vicinity.

“There is also support through the [National Planning Policy] framework for the re-use of underutilised land, especially where this would meet a need for housing where land supply is constrained, which includes building on car parks.

“Therefore, I conclude there are no material considerations of such weight as to indicate that a decision be taken other than in accordance with the development plan.”

The new accommodation block would be next to the Amex Stadium, home of Brighton & Hove Albion