The derelict site, which was the Smart Sea View Hotel, is in need of significant repairs and developer St Catherine’s Ltd said it was planning to bring the old building “back to life”. It is seeking permission for 36 flats.
The building, in Kingsway, Hove, used to be run by charity St Mungo’s for homeless people until July 2022 and was subject to dozens of incident while it was open.
Developer Tim Clapham said: “St Catherine’s has had many different uses over the years, including as a private school, a hotel and most recently as a homeless hostel. The building is currently disused and in need of significant repairs.
Behind the hoardings is the abandoned site (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)
“The scheme we’ve put forward makes best use of what’s there and our focus is to provide 36 high quality new homes that befit the area.
“St Catherine’s Lodge is in a prime location just off Hove seafront and benefits from impressive sea views and close proximity to Hove’s thriving independent shops and cafes.
“Our proposal for a sustainable, residential development offers an opportunity to enhance the appearance of the street and contribute positively to the economic impact of the area.
“The local residents we’ve spoken to so far have been supportive of our plans to bring St Catherine’s back into use.
The building viewed from the front (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)
“Bringing an old building back to life is more costly than building from scratch. Its former use as a homeless hostel sadly didn’t work out because it needed a significant amount of money to make it fit for use. We also know that many locals were concerned about the antisocial behaviour it attracted.
“We are local developers, well aware of the serious shortage of housing in Brighton and Hove and will be working closely with the council as part of the planning process.”
The proposal consists of 22 one-bedroom flats and 14 two-bedroom flats. None is classed as “affordable”.
The consultation for the building runs until February 13.
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