Brighton Hill Retail Park could become 'anti-social behaviour magnet'

Equation Properties was left “very disappointed” in October 2022 when the borough council refused its planning application to transform the 3.24-hectare Brighton Hill Retail Park, in Winchester Road.

The company said it is “considering our options”, which could include appealing the council’s decision.

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Cllr Andy Konieczko, Liberal Democrat councillor for Brighton Hill, said: “We don’t want the site to become derelict and a magnet for anti-social behaviour.”

He said that residents were “pleased that their voice has been heard” and the application was rejected, but he is now concerned that the site could cause more problems for those living nearby.

He added: “The next step for us is to make sure that the site doesn’t sit derelict. We don’t want the retail park to become run down and a magnet for anti-social behaviour. We’re starting to make progress with tackling the unauthorised car meets at Asda, so the last thing residents need is for the drivers to simply move down the road and create more disruption.”

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The retail park has been empty since the last retailer – Carpetright – left in June 2022.

Equation Properties was granted permission to demolish the buildings on the site but delayed knocking them down while it waited for a decision on its plans to develop the site and erect two buildings for commercial and office use.

The borough council then refused its plans to turn the site into a 24/7 commercial development in October 2022, labelling it “dominant and intrusive”.

Equation Properties said the council’s refusal would “paralyse this prominent site for a considerable amount of time”, adding that the site has become “an eyesore which is blighted by regular antisocial behaviour”.

The buildings have remained boarded up.