Green homes complete at U+I’s Circus Street development in Brighton
Regeneration specialist U+I has completed 142 new build-to-rent homes and 450 student bedrooms at its sustainable Circus Street development in Brighton city centre. On completion of the whole scheme, U+I will have delivered over 400 new jobs and added more than £200 million gross value to the local economy in the next 10 years.
Masterplanned and designed by shedkm, working together with delivery architect tp bennett, Circus Street is a new mixed-use neighbourhood that builds on Brighton’s existing character whilst providing a future focus on innovation and creativity.
114 one- and two-bedroom apartments for private rent – which will be operated by purchaser M&G Real Estate – and 28 affordable homes are arranged across four residential buildings. A further four high-quality student blocks accommodate 450 students. These new homes sit alongside a 30,000 sq ft office building and a new cultural hub for South East Dance. The project is being delivered in a £130 million Public Private Partnership with Brighton and Hove Council
Rated BREEAM Excellent across the entire development, all accommodation at Circus Street has been designed to be highly energy efficient. Photovoltaic panels provide green energy to the homes and green roof systems encourage biodiversity. The neighbourhood is formed around two new planted urban squares, in an area previously lacking in green space. U+I has also created safe pedestrian and cycle routes, as well as more than 600 secure cycle spaces.
The green spaces have been designed with the wellbeing of the community in mind. Residents will be encouraged to grow fruit and vegetables in allotments, taking inspiration from the fruit and vegetable market that historically stood on the site. Planting strips create privacy buffers but also contribute to the enhanced public realm, much like the tight hedge planting in front of many of Brighton’s terraced streets.
Rob Sloper, Development Director at U+I, commented: “Completing the new homes at Circus Street is an important step as part of the transformation of this strategically important site in the city as we look forward to the opening of the new office and dance space later this year. The relationships we have built with Brighton & Hove City Council and the local community have helped us to create an exciting and thriving place, which will be home to healthy and happy community. We are exceptionally proud of what we are delivering in, and for, Brighton.”
Hazel Rounding, Director, shedkm, commented: “In order to deliver the ambitions of place, shedkm championed a holistic approach to placemaking across the entire Circus Street development, knitting individual buildings and a wide mix of uses together in a coherent, accessible and welcoming scheme which puts people first.”