CONSTRUCTION update RESIDENTS’ NEWSLETTER
ISSUE 17 NOVEMBER 2022
Dear Neighbours As we move towards the final stages of our regeneration programme for Preston Barracks and the University of Brighton’s development The Big Build, we would like to update you on the progress so far, and what will be happening in the next few months. We would also like to outline the facilities and amenities these schemes are creating for the local community, as well as the wider benefits that investment in the area will bring.
DID YOU KNOW WE ARE BRINGING…
PLUS FURTHER LOCAL BENEFITS
Housing: At Preston Barracks we are building 369 new homes - a mixture of 1,2 and 3-bedroom apartments and houses, including affordable housing
The Big Build and Preston Barracks developers have contributed around £2.65m for Brighton & Hove City Council to allocate to local projects, with around £1.85m going towards improvements for public sports and recreation facilities in the area - such as your local parks, leisure centres, open spaces and allotments.
New GP surgeries: A new Medical Centre and Pharmacy serving up to 13,000 local residents A new public street: The Furlong on Preston Barracks will offer a range of shops and workshops including a convenience store Event spaces: For activity and events in The Furlong for local residents A new café: The café at Plus X on Preston Barracks is open all day on weekdays, all are welcome Outdoor spaces and access: Green spaces and traffic-free routes, ultimately creating an opportunity to use the various new pathways as a circuit for walking or running an estimated 1km loop Jobs and economic benefits: Through the Plus X Innovation Hub, new commercial spaces, and construction-related employment, the development will create over 1,000 new jobs locally and contribute over half a billion pounds to the city’s economy over its first 10 years
This includes: • £250,000 to improve indoor sports facilities at Moulsecoomb Community Leisure Centre • £440,000 to fund Carden Park’s new accessible multi-use games area, creating a mini-exercise track, an outdoor fitness space and new teen zone • £384,000 toward BHCC’s Local Employment Scheme • £265,000 for local transport initiatives • over £75,000 for allotments and food growing locally • and £85,000 for local Early Years education and nursery provision
LEWES ROAD BRIDGE NOW OPEN The landmark pedestrian bridge across the Lewes Road is now open, providing a fast and safe route for all to use. A lift at the raised western end of the bridge deck ensures the bridge is accessible for those unable to use the stairs, and cycle ‘gutters’ on the stairways are in place to allow dismounted cyclists to easily use the bridge too.
PRESTON BARRACKS NEWS
the big build NEWS
prestonbarracksconstruction.com
brighton.ac.uk/thebigbuild
The first two residential buildings are now ready for occupation, with the next two due this autumn. Works to the final residential building on Lewes Road began in January 2021; it is anticipated that this will be completed in summer 2023.
The University’s new Students’ Union and gym and fitness facilities, the final two elements of the Big Build on the east side of the Lewes Road, are now fully complete. Both spaces sit at street level beneath the new Mithras Halls.
Landscaping to the area around the bridge should be completed by the end of November, opening up the area known as Bridge Square and improving the link between the Preston Barracks site, Elm House and beyond. We anticipate that all Preston Barracks construction works will be completed in 2023, with final landscaping works to The Furlong expected in early 2024.
The new gym features a versatile studio space for classes and activities, a new gym floorspace with a wide range of modern equipment and accessible changing and shower facilities. The class programme is currently available to the public on a pay as you go basis. We will begin to offer memberships for local residents from 21 November 2022. You can find more information including prices and joining instructions on the Sport Brighton website: Sport.brighton.ac.uk/newgym
OPTIVO HOMES New residents have been moving into Home X at Preston Barracks since April 2022. These new homes, by Optivo, form the city's largest new build development offering private sale, Help to Buy and Shared Ownership. The residents include first-time buyers, young professionals, and families, who are looking forward to embracing the new neighbourhood and creating a community. Over half of the first phase of homes available for open market sale are sold or under reservation, with around 28% purchased using the Government’s Help to Buy scheme. A further 33 Shared Ownership homes are sold or under reservation, proving the need for a variety of affordable homeownership options in Brighton. To find out more, please visit www.home-x.co.uk or call 01273 068032.
Roadwork update Our roadworks contractor Edburton has been granted permission by Brighton & Hove City Council to undertake the works, but we are awaiting another party to complete some works before we can commence on site; these works will involve resurfacing part of Lewes Road, and final commissioning of the traffic lights. We anticipate these works being complete by the end of the year. We continue to liaise with Brighton & Hove City Council, the bus company, and other local stakeholders regarding the phasing of the works and the impact on road users and local residents.
RESIDENTS’ MEETING We welcome you to attend our regular residents’ drop-in meetings, where representatives of U+I, the University of Brighton and our construction contractors will be present to answer your questions on all aspects of the development. Next meeting:
Monday 21st November 2022 6pm-7pm at Plus X, Lewes Road, Brighton BN2 4GL
CONTACT US PRESTON BARRACKS www.prestonbarracksconstruction.com hello@prestonbarracksconstruction.com
THE BIG BUILD www.brighton.ac.uk/thebigbuild bigbuild@brighton.ac.uk
brighton & hove city council
EHL.environmentalprotection@brighton-hove.gov.uk