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Victorian villas to be restored
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| An architect's drawing of how part of the former care home will look from Medina Villas |
The restoration of a string of empty Victorian
villas into 32 properties has been approved.
Karis Developments, the firm behind the £290 million
King Alfred plan, has been granted planning permission
to redevelop Dresden House, a former residential care
home in Albany Villas and Medina Villas.
The plan was unanimously backed by councillors on
Brighton and Hove City Council's planning committee.
The conservation-led scheme is expected to restore the
extensive Victorian villas to their original grandeur.
Unattractive extensions and alterations, including
ugly fire escapes, will be removed from the buildings in
the Cliftonville Conservation Area. Flats, duplexes and
family homes will be provided in place of the 72-room
care home.
Four large family houses each occupying an entire
villa will be sold, together with a mix of one, two and
three-bedroom flats and duplex apartments.
The Albany Villas section of the development will
become 12 private flats and 12 low-cost apartments,
provided in partnership with Southern Housing Group.
On the Medina Villas side of the site, four family
homes with private gardens will go on the market
alongside four duplex apartments with private
gardens.
Trustees of Dresden House said the care home was
not financially viable and decided to sell it in 2005.
The Albany Villas side of the care home closed in
April 2005 and a year later the Medina Villas section
shut.
Many residents of Dresden House were left traumatised
after being made to move. Two residents, Alice
Pink, 93, and Edna Henshall, 84, both died soon after
they were forced out of the home.
Albany Cross Ltd, which is connected to Karis,
bought the site last year for £6.1 million.
Josh Arghiros, managing director of Karis Developments,
said: "We are delighted that councillors have
unanimously supported our plans for Dresden House in
Medina Villas and Albany Villas.
"These wonderful properties are in a fantastic
position in one of the most desirable areas in Hove and
we are very pleased we now have the opportunity to
return these unique and very special villas to their original
splendour.
"Unfortunately the previous use as a care home did
not respect the Victorian architecture and the properties
have been neglected for far too long.
"The plans have been developed to restore original
features and enhance the conservation area, and it will
be wonderful to see the villas brought back into use as
beautiful homes."
John Robinson, of Karis, added: "The proposals have
been widely supported by local residents and we look
forward to starting work on site in the very near
future."
In addition to the low-cost housing, a £150,000
contribution will be made to fund public art, education,
open space and highways.
Karis is already involved in a number of high-profile
projects in Brighton and Hove, including the King
Alfred on Hove seafront and the Black Lion Street
redevelopment in The Lanes.
9:19pm Monday 12th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: Gentleman Jim, Brighton on 11:08pm Mon 12 May 08
Karis!!,watch out,the original scheme for the King Alfred was approved then various changes were introduced.
Karis!!,watch out,the original scheme for the King Alfred was approved then various changes were introduced.
Posted by: jayne, hove on 11:47pm Mon 12 May 08
sounds good but not seen exact details, it is what hove wants and needs. but caution beware £150,000 towards public open space art etc. probably will mean a trouble attracting skatepark as this is all the council seem to want at the moment, but the one on hove lagoon as caused more problems than anyone could wish to imagine, soon to be closed down i hear.
sounds good but not seen exact details, it is what hove wants and needs. but caution beware £150,000 towards public open space art etc. probably will mean a trouble attracting skatepark as this is all the council seem to want at the moment, but the one on hove lagoon as caused more problems than anyone could wish to imagine, soon to be closed down i hear.
Posted by: Stroller, Hove on 8:25am Tue 13 May 08
It is looking as though the Conservatives are getting curiously close to Karis.
It is looking as though the Conservatives are getting curiously close to Karis.
Posted by: Barry, Walsingham Road on 9:26am Tue 13 May 08
I should think that Karis' history means there has to be a catch in it.
Another Sackville Hotel case - and application for a "modern" tower?
I should think that Karis' history means there has to be a catch in it.
Another Sackville Hotel case - and application for a "modern" tower?
Posted by: Matt, Grand Ave on 10:53am Tue 13 May 08
[quote][bold]Stroller[/bold] wrote:
It is looking as though the Conservatives are getting curiously close to Karis.[/quote] Very interesting. If Cllr Older and Cllr Younger are getting friendly with Karis they will be making a big mistake. We already have two absent Tory Councillors - neither live in the ward and are never seen here. We need someone who will work for us and stand up against the big developers.
Stroller wrote:
It is looking as though the Conservatives are getting curiously close to Karis.
Very interesting. If Cllr Older and Cllr Younger are getting friendly with Karis they will be making a big mistake. We already have two absent Tory Councillors - neither live in the ward and are never seen here. We need someone who will work for us and stand up against the big developers.
Posted by: mark, brighton on 12:27pm Tue 13 May 08
seems karis will catch a cold on this, property prices by time the building is done will be ten percent down on prices now, they paid 6.5 million a year ago, so say they take year to convert and sell, 50k per unit to convert, with fees to sell and interest it will stand somewhere about 10 million. does seem bit tight with prices dropping. looking at other quality developements, new church road, and the drive, it appears both sites have sold one each. so this could be a major loser for karis. unless they dont convert and wait for market to steady! but at 500k a year interest. they cant sit to long!
seems karis will catch a cold on this, property prices by time the building is done will be ten percent down on prices now, they paid 6.5 million a year ago, so say they take year to convert and sell, 50k per unit to convert, with fees to sell and interest it will stand somewhere about 10 million. does seem bit tight with prices dropping. looking at other quality developements, new church road, and the drive, it appears both sites have sold one each. so this could be a major loser for karis. unless they dont convert and wait for market to steady! but at 500k a year interest. they cant sit to long!
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