Hollingdean Green Proposal

Below is the letter submitted to the planning policy team within the City Development and Regeneration department at Brighton and Hove City Council.

Subject: Site Submission / Call for Sites Response – Hollingdean Depot (Proposed New Neighbourhood: "Hollingdean Green") 

1. SITE DETAILS & SUGGESTED IDENTIFICATION

Site Name: Hollingdean Depot and Adjacent Council Housing Blocks (Nettleton Court and Dudeney Lodge)
Proposed Neighborhood Name: Hollingdean Green
Total Land Area:** Approximately 4 hectares (comprising 1.8 ha Veolia facilities, 1.7 ha Cityclean operations, and 0.694 ha residential blocks)

Current Infrastructure: The site benefits from existing utility hookups (electricity, water, telecoms, gas, sewerage) and excellent transport links, being adjacent to bus routes 50, 26, and 46, and a 10-minute walk from London Road station.

2. VISION & IDENTITY: WHY "HOLLINGDEAN GREEN"?

The name "South Hollingdean" is already widely utilised for local administrative purposes, such as the Controlled Parking Zone 14 scheme. To prevent community confusion and establish a distinct identity, we formally propose designating this redevelopment **"Hollingdean Green"**. 

This name directly reflects the transformation of a heavy industrial brownfield site into a sustainable, nature-forward urban village. It directly addresses the core spatial and environmental goals of the local planning brief: 

  • A strict minimum of 30% of the site footprint dedicated to green and civic space.
  • The creation of a major linear park connecting existing local green routes and wildlife corridors.
  • Full decontamination of soil and groundwater to safe residential thresholds.
  • Integration of community allotments, rain gardens, and a protected, enhanced tree canopy.

3. PROPOSED DEVELOPMENTS & LOCAL HOUSING CONTRIBUTION

We suggest the site be allocated for a sustainable, mixed-tenure residential neighbourhood of approximately 300–350 homes to contribute significantly to the city's housing targets up to 2044 without encroaching on greenfield land: 

  • **Replacement Housing:** High-quality, modern, fully accessible homes to replace the structurally aging high-rises of Nettleton Court and Dudeney Lodge.
  • **Human-Scale Design:** Low-rise apartments (maximum 4–6 storeys) and family houses utilising brick and timber-faced buildings that complement the local character.
  • **Eco-Standards:** Innovative housing built to Passivhaus-informed energy efficiency standards, featuring reduced car dependency, electric car clubs, and active travel priority schemes.

4. STRATEGIC RELOCATION OF INDUSTRIAL OPERATIONS

The realisation of "Hollingdean Green" hinges on the planned relocation of the Waste Transfer Station (WTS) and Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) by the expiry of the current Veolia contract in April 2033. 

  • **Site Deficiencies:** The current structures, which will be 25 years old when Veolia's contract ends, suffer from severe spatial limitations, notably lacking standard sealed double-door vehicle vestibules (airlocks), which lets odorous air escape into the residential basin. They also lack adequate vertical and horizontal green landscaping barriers.
  • **Future Planning:** Moving these industrial services to a strategic location along the A27/A23 axis will allow for modern, larger recycling infrastructure with separated HGV access, radically lowering the industrial impact on surrounding residential areas.

5. FINANCIAL & FEASIBILITY SUMMARY

Redevelopment costs are estimated between £85.5m and £140m, aligning with UK brownfield redevelopment benchmarks. Funding can be actively secured through a mosaic of: 

  • Homes England support and the Brownfield Land Release Fund.
  • Local authority housing grants and cross-subsidy from market-sale units.
  • Net-Zero and green-infrastructure grant eligibility.

6. CONCLUSION

Allocating the Hollingdean Depot site for the "Hollingdean Green" neighbourhood unlocks profound health, air-quality, housing, and biodiversity benefits for the local community. We urge the City Development and Regeneration department to include this vision in the upcoming city growth plan.

Read the proposal in more detail on The Round Hill Society's website

This page was last updated by Ted on 25-Aug-2026
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