In the first four months of 2022 alone, Sussex Police reported some 38 incidents at the hostel – known as the Smart Sea View hotel – which is now boarded up.
It used to be run by St Mungo’s for homeless people in Brighton. But there are hopes to renovate the derelict site into 36 one and two-bed flats.
A planning application to convert the building was submitted in December and, once validated by the council, residents will be able to share their views.
Developer Tim Clapham said: “St Catherine’s is in an enviable location, near thriving independent businesses and has amazing sea views.
“The building itself has sadly been neglected for years and is now in need of some serious TLC.”
Purple hoardings surround the property, now owned by St Catherine’s Hove Ltd, with the tagline “Homes for Hove” advertised. The Argus understands these were installed after a string of break-ins to the abandoned site.
The locally listed building was placed on the market in 2022 for £7 million – however it was bought by the new company for only £3,875,000 according to the land registry.
Mr Clapham added: “Our plan is to create a high-quality development of homes that befit its special setting and bring new life to the area”
The building was once a private school, hotel, and most recently a homeless hostel until July 2022 due to the building being in need of significant repairs.
Read more: Hostel with secret underground tunnel ‘will not collapse‘
Brighton and Hove City Council describes the building – designed by Hove Station architect F D Banister – as an “early example of development in the Cliftonville estate” and “retains many original and historic features of quality and craftsmanship”.
It was built in 1854 as four semi-detached houses, then numbers nine and ten were used as the gentlemen’s preparatory school between 1873 and 1874, before they were conjoined in 1927 to form a single hotel.
Since then, it has been operated under various names including the Smart Sea View Hotel.
Source link
[Featured]
[Just In]
