Brighton Centre
Between the 1930s and 1960s, fifteen acres of buildings, similar in style to both the Lanes and North Laine, were demolished to make way for a grand project that led to the construction of the Kingswest Building (1965), Churchill Square (1968), Chartwell Court (1971) and the Brighton Centre (1977). In 1966, the Metropole Hotel’s stunning ornamental garden, some decent houses and the beautiful St. Margaret’s Chapel were flattened to make way for Sussex Heights (the tallest building in Sussex) and the Metropole’s conference centre. The near demolition of the Grand Hotel sums up this architecturally disastrous period well.
A hotel is to be included in the new scheme so why not allow the well-run Grand Hotel to extend to the east to restore its symmetry? I am particularly unhappy that the proposal includes an extension to Churchill Square. Adding value to the shopping centre significantly pushes back the time when it can be redeveloped. Although it’s not too bad internally, many of the exterior areas are appalling including anything to do with its car parks, which should be buried underneath, and most external areas; especially to the west along Canon Place and by Russell Square.
Decisions will soon need to be made soon about the Brighton Centre which will be key to the City’s prosperity over the next few decades – the lessons of the past must not be forgotten.
