news

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Keep our seafront green

Many Brightonians and visitors will have noticed the greenery on the seafront east of the pier. This is mainly Japanese spindle – an ornamental plant established in Edwardian era as part of the (now removed) formal gardens along Marine Drive, but there’s ivy and other plants too.

Green wall at Marine Drive Brighton

Green wall at Marine Drive Brighton

It’s possibly the largest and oldest growth of this plant in the UK – and without it the seafront would be a very dull and barren place – and wildlife like wrens and migrating butterflies would certainly suffer. I’m sure the green walls have a big benefit for managing run off too – and the ivy will protect the cliff render where it’s in good condition. I don’t think Max Miller would have approved – the aerial walk bears his name.

Picture of Japanese Spindle

Japanese Spindle – Euonymus Japonicus

The cliff face in some areas is in poor condition, and something will probably have to be done to cut the planting back to allow stabilisation works. Here at Building Green we’re working with the Council to see how this can be done whilst saving this vital greenery.

Green wall at Marine Drive, Brighton

Green wall at Marine Drive, Brighton

If anyone knows the best way to cut back or coppice this plant, would like to volunteer to do a botanical survey of the cliff, or can get involved in managing the Marine Drive planting, get in touch.

What we really don’t want is a repeat of what happened further East, where a long section of green wall was unceremoniously stripped away in the name of litter and pest control.

Building Green poster

Who cut out the green – Building Green campaign for better treatment of the seafront environment

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Invitation: improve Ann Street / Providence Place Gardens

Dear Sir/Madam,

 

Brighton & Hove City Council is inviting architects, designers, artists and/or event programmers (including collaborations between professionals within and outside the UK) to bid for a commission for up to €50.000 (fifty thousand Euros) for the pilot design that transforms and enhances people’s experience of the Ann Street / Providence Place Gardens area of Brighton.

This is part of the INTERREG IVB Lively Cities (LICI) project to turn the street and small park in front of the majestic St Bartholomew’s Church into a successful and well-used space. The area is part of the wider regeneration of the London Road area of the city.

The pilot will be tested out this autumn, with the most successful features becoming permanent fixtures.

The commission involves a three stage selection process: pre-qualification, short-list of 5 proposals and invitation to tender of the 5 short-listed.

Five ideas will be shortlisted in March and the applicants asked to develop detailed proposals for a public exhibition at the end of April. A selection panel will choose the winner at the end of May. The public will have the chance to vote for their favourite via an exhibition in early May which will inform the final decision.

To help applicants better understand how the project area currently works as well as the concerns and aspirations of present and potential future users, the council has produced supporting documents that details information gathered via a series of consultation events and site assessment work carried out between July and December 2011.

For general, up to date information on the Brighton & Hove Lively Cities project please visit www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/livelycitiesand http://www.facebook.com/livelycitiesbrighton.

For information on the competition, related documentation and guidance on how to apply please visit from the 12 January 2012 onwards the South East Business Portal on the Improving Efficiency South East Website (www.businessportal.southeastiep.gov.uk). Applicants will need to search for ‘Opportunities’ against Brighton and Hove Council from this website to access the relevant Pre-Qualification Questionnaire (PQQ), and submit it according to the timescales in the document.

The deadline for submissions is 29 February 2012, 5pm.

Please note that submissions entered after this date will not be evaluated, and all relevant material required to support your submission should be sent to the relevant contact.

For additional information please email planningprojects@brighton-hove.gov.uk or call us on (01273) 292352.

 

Kind regards,

Paula.

 

 

Paula Goncalves

Senior Planning Officer

Planning Projects Team

Brighton & Hove City Council

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Brighton hospital planning consultation open

Formal consultation is open on the hospital development, closing 8 November.

This is a vital time in the planning process and has a genuine influence on the outcome of the decision.

In the scheme of things, the roof gardens and terraces are a minor consideration when lives are at stake from the lack of a decent trauma unit – but views of natural green space are known to speed recovery, so there should be a benefit to patients in future.

See the Council’s website for further information and details of how to comment on the redevelopment plans:

http://www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/index.cfm?request=c1199915

The reference numbers for the applications are follows:

* Main Application – BH2011/02886

* Listed Building Application (Bristol Gates) – BH2011/02887

* Listed Building Application (Chapel) – BH2011/02888

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Lively Cities invite for Brighton & Hove

Brighton & Hove City Council is taking part in the ‘Lively Cities’ (LICI) programme. This is a four-year project receiving financial assistance from the European Union, aimed at improving the area around the bottom end of Ann Street, including Providence Place Gardens (the small park near London Rd; opposite St Bartholomew’s Church/below Sainsbury’s).
More information about LICI and the Brighton & Hove site is provided in the attached newsletter and in the council website (www.brighton-hove.gov.uk/livelycities).
In order to identify and take on board the priorities and needs of local communities and stakeholders for the area, the council will be running a series of workshops at the BEMCP Centre (10A Fleet Street. Brighton. BN1 4ZE).
The council would like those who have a particular interest in the project area to attend one of three workshops that will take place on the following dates/times:
§ Workshop 1: Monday 17 October, 12.00-2.30pm
§ Workshop 2: Monday 17 October, 5.30-8.00pm
§ Workshop 3: Friday 21 October, 12.00-2.30pm
You can sign up for the workshops by responding to this email or by phone 01273 292352 by no later than Wednesday 12 October 2011.
The number of spaces will be limited due to venue size, so it is possible that we may not be able to accept everyone that is interested if the demand is too great. If this is the case, we will ensure that anyone with an interest is informed of future wider consultation events associated with the project and how they can take part. We will get back to everyone who has applied to take part in one of the workshops as soon as possible after 12 October and advise if you have a place and the date you have been allocated.
Please note that part of the workshop will involve participants being taken out in small groups of about five to the Ann St/Providence Gardens site to assess the quality, safety and other aspects of the area. Each group will be led and guided by a council officer who has been trained in the exercise which does not involve the need for participants to have any prior knowledge or any particular expertise. We hope that the exercise will be interesting and stimulating to all participants. The results will inform the preparation of a competition for ideas to improve the area.
We will provide further information on the exercise at the workshop, but would be grateful if you would note the weather on the day and come appropriately attired for going outdoors. Please advise me in advance if you have any mobility problems or other needs that we will need to take into account.
Sandwiches and refreshments will be available.
Yours sincerely,

Alan Buck
Planning Projects Manager

Paula Goncalves on behalf of Alan Buck
Senior Planning Officer
Planning Projects Team
Brighton & Hove City Council
Hove Town Hall, room 414
Norton Road, Hove
BN3 3BQ

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Do Green Roofs Provide Storm Water Attenuation?

Green Roof“The benefits of green roofs are well documented and established, but uncertainty remains as to whether they can provide attenuation and storage for storm water.

“Micro Drainage worked with the University of Sheffield to establish a model to accurately factor the runoff from a green roof.

“The outcome now enables a green roof to be modelled as part of a Sustainable Drainage System (SUDS).”

To read the full paper visit http://www.microdrainage.co.uk/mddownloadpapers.asp