Much needed council homes could hit the streets of Brighton

As the cost-of-living continues to bite, Brighton & Hove City Council could be set to provide new council homes after a meeting was held over whether the local authority could buy a block of 38 flats.

The flats, which are situated in Whitehawk Way, are known as Kubic Apartments and were built by a private developer but have never been occupied. The development is made up of a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom homes, and include two wheelchair accessible properties.

If the purchase is agreed, which was discussed at a council meeting held two weeks ago, the flats would be let as council-rented homes to people on the city’s housing register. They could also be let to existing council tenants who want to downsize, which would also help free up larger family homes.

Councillors at the Housing & New Homes Committee approved the report and made a recommendation to the Strategy, Finance and Regeneration Committee – which will make the final decision – to agree the purchase of the flats.

Councillor Gill Williams, chair of the Housing & New Homes Committee, said: ‘We are committed to increasing the supply of affordable housing in the city and are already building more council homes.

‘This proposed purchase is another way for us to provide additional council homes and, if it goes ahead, will provide a significant boost of 38 more good quality constructed flats.’

The report to the committee says the development was granted planning permission in 2018, which including an affordable housing element of 15 flats.

When no housing associations expressed an interest in purchasing the 15 homes, the developer reviewed options for the scheme and entered into discussions with the council about a whole block purchase.

Funding from the council’s Home Purchase Policy could be used to purchase the homes. The policy enables the council to buy back former council homes and, as in this case, buy privately developed homes.

Image: Darren Coleshill