Construction Completed for New Student Flats on London Road in Brighton
The construction of a new block adjacent to Aldi on London Road, Brighton, has now been completed. The area of pavement that had been cordoned off during the construction process has been cleared, and the building is now ready for occupancy.
This five-storey building features 156 flats, offering both shared accommodations and studios, with weekly rents starting at £275 for an en-suite room in an eight-bed shared flat. The priciest option is the “premium studio,” costing £385 per week.
Tenancies are available for 51 weeks and can be paid either in full or in three installments, with no provision for weekly or monthly payments.
The flats are spread across four storeys on London Road and five storeys on Providence Place. Students will begin moving in from September 7, accessing the building from Providence Place.
The development includes a reception area, communal spaces, and 24/7 security management, as noted by the developer.
Though the new block is car-free, it provides access to cycle routes and storage spaces. A representative from McLaren Property, the project’s planners, commented on the ongoing demand for quality, affordable student housing in Brighton, noting that only 25% of the city’s student population resides in purpose-built accommodations.
The previous occupants of the site included Peacocks, Poundland, and Iceland, who vacated in June 2022 to make way for the new development. The 1930s M&S store had closed in 1986.
While the new retail spaces in the development have yet to be filled, McLaren’s planners, who proposed the project in 2021, believe the new building will address issues of antisocial behavior that plagued the old site.
Additionally, a new student housing block across the road opened in September 2022, featuring amenities such as Nando’s, Co-op, Starbucks, and Heavenly Desserts below it.