Residents at one of Brighton and Hove’s most unique and historic buildings - Marine Gate - are speaking out with concerns that they are not being listened to or properly consulted about a major proposed development at the neighbouring disused gasworks site.
Marine Gate, built between 1937 and 1939, is a unique building in Brighton and Hove located to the east Kemp Town Conservation Area and disused gasworks. Given its position, Marine Gate is recognised as providing a landmark when travelling along the Coast Road and it’s art deco features and nautical touches has invoked strong opinions among architectural historians and critics. Designed in a U-shape to allow all flats to have a seaview and portholes to the bathroom windows provide a subtle nautical feel.
Its location next to the gasworks site has played a key part in its history; leading to it being damaged by bombs several times during the second world war to the extent that it was Brighton’s most bombed building, with a number of residents losing their lives. . Its strategic importance and its proximity to Brighton’s main gasworks and the cliffs made it a target for bombing and other attacks and The Royal Air Force established a lookout post at Marine Gate. On 26th June 1942, Marine Gate was hit by 22 shells fired at the building.
Post-war, the building was repaired and today it is recognised in Council documents as an historic building. Today residents of Marine Gate are concerned that the current plans to develop the disused gasworks site with a high density high rise urban infill development are not treating the Marine Gate building nor the community as the historic building that it is.
The disused gasworks site lies between the Marine Gate and the Kemp Town Conservation area, meaning that any development plans for the Gasworks site need to be sensitive to not only the Conservation area but also the historic Marine Gate building.
Residents are concerned the current proposals would have a tremendous impact on the West side of this historic building and the amenity of homes and that there will be an overdevelopment. Whereas City Plan Part one earmarked the site for a development of 85 units, the current proposal is for a development of 600-700 units in tightly packed tower blocks. It will also severely impact the sightlines and visual pleasure of Marine Gate.
The local residents of Marine Gate have their own local community, and feel like they have been ignored by both the developer and the council, who are not adequately consulting with them.
The Marine Gate residents have joined with coalition of 16 interested heritage groups has formed to scrutinise plans put forward at the site and to oppose the current proposals.
These include: Brighton Society, Regency Society, Kemp Town society, Kingscliffe society, Montpelier & Clifton Hill Association; Brighton & Hove Heritage Commission; North Laine Community Association; Rottingdean Heritage; West Hill Community Association; Marine Gate Holdings; Due East; Aghast, Amex Area Neighbourhood forum; Regency Square Area Society; Southdown Rise Residents Association; Kingsway and West Hove Residents Association.
These groups are concerned about the beauty of the built environment and want to see a development that is true to this. The number of heritage groups involved shows how important the gasworks site is considered by the community in Brighton and Hove.
The Council needs to remember that Marine Gate is recognised as an historic building and that this needs to be reflected in the Council’s thinking and actions on the gasworks site.
Our Conservative Candidate for Rottingdean Coastal Lynda Hyde is organising representation to Council for residents of Marine Gate, to call for:
- More and improved consultation with Marine Gate residents on the future of the gasworks site going forward.
- The council to recognise that the current proposals are totally unsympathetic to Marine Gate as an historic building and are unsuited to the site.
- Any future plans to recognise the historic and recognised historic status of Marine Gate.
Lynda is standing on a platform to protect the character of our seafront and conservation areas. With many years’ past experience on the Planning Committee and a track record of success standing up for residents and getting results, Lynda has the knowledge to stand up for residents on planning issues.
The gasworks development shows the importance of listening to our many heritage organisations in the city. These groups are guardians of our built environment, understand its architecture and care deeply about developments. They are too often ignored when the Council makes planning decisions. We must listen to these guardians of heritage and the built environment in the area, including the residents of Marine Gate.
