Over 30 extra homes for the council could potentially be offered in Brighton
In a bid to increase the supply of affordable housing in Brighton & Hove City, the council is considering the purchase of the unoccupied Kubic Apartments, located on Whitehawk Way.
The Kubic Apartments, consisting of 38 new flats, were built by a private developer but have never been occupied. The development includes a mix of one-, two- and three-bedroom homes, and two wheelchair accessible properties.
The Housing & New Homes Committee recently approved a report recommending the purchase of the flats. If the purchase goes ahead, it will provide a significant boost of 38 more good quality constructed flats to the city's housing stock.
The developer initially planned to sell the 15 affordable housing flats separately, but discussions with the council led to a potential whole block purchase. No housing associations expressed an interest in purchasing the 15 homes, leading to the current negotiations between the developer and the council.
If purchased, the flats will be let as council-rented homes to people on the city's housing register. The purchase is aimed at addressing the city's housing shortage and providing more affordable options for residents.
Councillor Gill Williams, chair of the Housing & New Homes Committee, is committed to increasing the supply of affordable housing in the city. She stated, "This potential purchase aligns with our goal of providing more affordable homes for our residents. We are hopeful that the Strategy, Finance and Regeneration Committee will approve the purchase."
The final decision on the purchase will be made by the Strategy, Finance and Regeneration Committee. The council meeting where the purchase was discussed took place two weeks ago. The council's Home Purchase Policy could be used to fund the purchase of the Kubic Apartments.
The Kubic Apartments were granted planning permission in 2018, including an affordable housing element of 15 flats. The purchase of the flats is another step towards the council's goal of increasing the supply of affordable housing and improving the lives of its residents.
At present, there are no search results that mention the developer of the Kubic Apartments or the timing of conversations between the developer and Brighton & Hove City Council regarding the purchase of the apartments. However, updates on the purchase will be made available as more information becomes available.
