Latest news with #GillWilliams
BBC News
5 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Council agrees to demolish eight Brighton tower blocks
Brighton & Hove City Council has confirmed it will push ahead with plans to demolish eight tower blocks which no longer meet current safety standards.A report went before councillors on Thursday recommending the blocks, containing 554 flats, be demolished and replaced with newer council buildings are Falcon Court, Heron Court, Kestrel Court, Kingfisher Court and Swallow Court in Whitehawk, Dudeney Lodge and Nettleton Court in Hollingdean and St James's House in Williams, cabinet member for housing, said that after "careful consideration" it was agreed in principle that "regeneration is the preferred option". Structural surveys last year found the buildings no longer met current safety standards for withstanding a collapse in the case of an explosion or large fire. The council looked at strengthening and refurbishing the buildings but research found these methods would only guarantee their safety for 20 Williams said attention now turns to helping residents find new accommodation and that meetings would soon be held to ensure the new designs reflect their "needs, voices and visions"."We recognise that these buildings have happy memories, in some cases for three generations of families," she said."This is why it was important for us to explore all the options in detail, including strengthening and refurbishing the blocks."We will now begin working hand-in-hand with residents on every step of the next part of the journey."Ms Williams said no one would have to leave their property immediately and that the council would do everything it could to ensure those who want to stay in the area can do so.
BBC News
03-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Brighton residents to have right to return to revamped flats
People living in tower blocks under threat of demolition will keep their social housing tenancies and have the right to return when they are redeveloped, a council meeting housing officials were quizzed about the future of the eight tower blocks, that contain a a total of 558 flats, at a Brighton & Hove City Council meeting on were told that doing nothing was not an option and redevelopment would need to start within five Williams, the council's cabinet member for housing, said: "We will be proceeding with compassion and care because this is very emotional and there are a lot of ties to the area and their homes." The eight tower blocks are Dudeney Lodge and Nettleton Court in Hollingdean, St James' House in Kemptown, and Falcon Court, Heron Court, Kestrel Court, Kingfisher Court and Swallow Court in living in the blocks will continue to pay a "social rent", Williams councillor added: "We will be careful, where we can, to be able to place people in a similar area in similar types of accommodation that they are used to."Williams said the redevelopment programme would aim to increase the number of council homes overall. Committee members were told structural work and buying back leasehold flats would cost a combined £166m, which would take up a large chunk of the five-year £297m housing revenue account Levy, the council's director of housing and regeneration, said the local authority was aiming to start consulting on its rehousing policy in January and to start the process by the end of Meadows, a former chair of the housing committee, said she believed it would take eight years for the new homes to be over-arching programme to redevelop all eight sites completely would be phased, should the cabinet approve it, and would likely cost more than £500m.A report on the proposals for the eight blocks is due to go before the council's cabinet on 17 July.
BBC News
23-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
Report recommends eight Brighton tower blocks should be demolished
A report that is going before Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) will recommend it demolishes eight council-owned tower report, going before councillors on 17 July, says that BHCC should "develop and consult" demolition plans and replace them with newer council eight buildings are Dudeney Lodge and Nettleton Court in Hollingdean, Falcon Court, Heron Court, Kestrel Court, Kingfisher Court and Swallow Court in North Whitehawk and St James's House in Gill Williams, cabinet member for housing, said: "Since October last year, I have been working with officers and meeting with householders to explore the options about the future of these blocks." Structural surveys last year found that the buildings no longer meet current safety standards for withstanding a collapse in the case of an explosion or large options looked at were to strengthen and refurbish the buildings. However, research found that strengthening work only guarantees the building's safety for a further 20 years and requires significant report sets out that strengthening the building is not seen as a viable or affordable long-term solution for residents or for the council. Councillor Williams added: "We recognise that these buildings have happy memories, in some cases for 3 generations of families."We honour that history - it's precisely because we care so deeply about the safety, quality and future of the homes that our tenants live in that we must now look ahead with clarity and courage."
Yahoo
22-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Redundant' space transformed into family home
A new family home has been built on a garden in Hove as part of a project that looks to transform unused sites into good quality housing. Built through the Hidden Home project, the two-bedroom house on Martin Road is the latest addition to Brighton & Hove City Council's housing stock. This house, which is the 30th delivered since this project began in 2019, is to be let at social rent to ensure it is affordable. Councillor Gill Williams, chair of the housing and new homes committee, says the demand for housing in Brighton and Hove requires "truly innovative solutions". She said: "The Hidden Homes project ensures that we make the best use of pockets of land and redundant spaces on our estates, which would otherwise serve no purpose and remain 'hidden', by transforming them into good quality, comfortable and sustainable new homes." The new home on Martin Road has been built on land which was previously part of the garden of a neighbouring council house. When the vacant home was due to be refurbished, the opportunity was taken to divide the original large garden to provide an additional home. The house is designed to be energy efficient, with an air source heat pump heating system and solar panels to help reduce energy bills. A bee brick and three swift bricks have also been installed to help enhance the local biodiversity. Other homes built through the Hidden Homes project include a three-bedroom family house in Bevendean, and eight additional homes on the Bristol Estate. A former office in Manor Hill, Whitehawk, has also been converted into two flats and a new house. Follow BBC Sussex on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Plan for 101-home development to go before council Plans to build new water-efficient homes approved Brighton & Hove City Council
BBC News
22-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
New home built in garden in Hove as part of council project
A new family home has been built on a garden in Hove as part of a project that looks to transform unused sites into good quality through the Hidden Home project, the two-bedroom house on Martin Road is the latest addition to Brighton & Hove City Council's housing house, which is the 30th delivered since this project began in 2019, is to be let at social rent to ensure it is Gill Williams, chair of the housing and new homes committee, says the demand for housing in Brighton and Hove requires "truly innovative solutions". She said: "The Hidden Homes project ensures that we make the best use of pockets of land and redundant spaces on our estates, which would otherwise serve no purpose and remain 'hidden', by transforming them into good quality, comfortable and sustainable new homes."The new home on Martin Road has been built on land which was previously part of the garden of a neighbouring council house. Biodiversity When the vacant home was due to be refurbished, the opportunity was taken to divide the original large garden to provide an additional house is designed to be energy efficient, with an air source heat pump heating system and solar panels to help reduce energy bills.A bee brick and three swift bricks have also been installed to help enhance the local homes built through the Hidden Homes project include a three-bedroom family house in Bevendean, and eight additional homes on the Bristol Estate. A former office in Manor Hill, Whitehawk, has also been converted into two flats and a new house.
