View Full Version : Brighton Marina 40 storey tower approved


RSWB
July 1st, 2006, 11:55 AM
I have created this thread as I know some of you don't usually view the Brighton thread.

Anyway good news, the magnificent roaring forties tower has been given the go ahead and construction is due to start at the end of 2006.

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/347BrightonMarinaTower_pic4.jpg


This from the argus:

Home and dry
by Jan Melrose

A 40-storey skyscraper will rise above Brighton Marina providing spectacular views along the Sussex coastline.

The 420ft tower, dubbed the Roaring Forties, will be the centrepiece of a £235 million development which yesterday won planning permission from Brighton and Hove City Council and should be built by 2012.

The tower, designed by award-winning architects Wilkinson Eyre, will be the tallest building in Sussex and will have a public viewing gallery on the top floor.

A swing bridge, similar to Jim Eyre's £25 million "winking eye"

masterpiece in Gateshead, will connect two breakwaters at either side of the marina allowing people to walk all the way around it for the first time.

A second bridge over the beach at Black Rock will connect the site with Madeira Drive allowing easier access for pedestrians and cyclists.

Ten other buildings ranging in height from six to 13 storeys will provide 853 homes, 341 of which will be affordable social housing, a yacht club and RNLI building, a multi-purpose sports court, a boules and bowling green, children's play areas, a teenage "chill out" area, doctors' surgery and a community room. There will also be public outdoor space.

The number of car parking spaces has increased from 176 to 496, and 876 bike spaces have been provided.

The scheme, spearheaded by Andrew Goodall of Brunswick Developments, is a reworking of proposals unexpectedly rejected by councillors last November.

Speaking after councillors voted 9 to 3 to approve the revised plans Mr Goodall said: "There was huge support for this scheme not just from the public but from the councillors as was reflected at the meeting. It is going to be a wonderful asset for the city.

"It was important that this was decided locally and it was not a political decision. It is fantastic that the councillors here are the ones who are going to make this happen."

He said work on the first of three phases is expected to begin by the end of the year.

"The next stage is to do some detailed design work and get on site as soon as possible."

Brunswick will contribute £1.2 million towards sustainable transport, which could help fund a rapid transport system, £875,000 for outdoor sports, and £330,000 towards education.

Speaking at the meeting Councillor David Watkins, who previously voted against the plans, said: "They have taken on board the points we made last time and have come up with an admirable development."

Councillor Simon Burgess, leader of the city council, said: "I know there was some opposition to the proposals but I do feel passionately that this development is great news for our city."

But residents who mounted a campaign against the plans have vowed to continue their fight.

They hope to add to the 5,000-strong petition handed in at yesterday's packed meeting.

The development could still be halted if the Government Office of the South-East asks for the plans to be called in.

Councillors must also meet again to waive part of the Brighton Marina Act 1968 which bans buildings higher than the cliff top.

Derek Granger, 85, chairman of the Kemp Town Society, said: "The game may be over but the match certainly isn't."

Peter Martin, vice-chairman of the Brighton Marina Residents' Association, said: "There are many battles still to be fought. There are many avenues to pursue - including a judicial review - which we will do with the utmost intensity."

large
July 1st, 2006, 12:44 PM
Beat me to it, just bought a copy of the Argus. This will be one of the most graceful towers in the UK. It is perfect for the location, light and breezy looking in it's design...much prefer it to the Gehry proposals (which are going to be heavily changed now, if they the project goes ahead at all). The rest of the project sounds awesome too with good quality public space etc. Lets just hope the NIMBYs don't throw a spanner in the works.

Gherkin
July 1st, 2006, 12:47 PM
Woo! This being one of my favourite proposed skyscrapers in the country i was gutted to hear the NIMBYs blocked it ages ago... but so happy now I will see it rising come 2007 :D

Dreamer
July 1st, 2006, 12:54 PM
Great news, congratulations - lets hope its a success. Well Done Brighton!

Luke
July 1st, 2006, 12:57 PM
This really is brilliant news! My favourite proposal outside London.

Accura4Matalan
July 1st, 2006, 01:29 PM
Excellent news :)

Newcastle Guy
July 1st, 2006, 02:03 PM
I love this tower! Lets hope Brunswic quay in Liverpool turns out the same!

Wild@Heart
July 1st, 2006, 02:48 PM
Fan-friggin'-tastic. :)

Skid-Mark
July 1st, 2006, 02:52 PM
all good! a little dubai-esque, but without the silly numbers.

Medo
July 1st, 2006, 02:57 PM
Excellent news for Brighton :banana:

Sy
July 2nd, 2006, 11:52 AM
This tower looks stunning, I bet the views from the top will be great. Brighton Marina has always been a great place but this will make it so much better!

I wonder if they will move the nudist beach now, as it will be overlooked by this tower?

potto
July 2nd, 2006, 02:17 PM
The NIMBYs moaning about car parking spaces can fuck off

JDRS
July 2nd, 2006, 03:03 PM
Brilliant news....but the NIMBYs taking the decision to the high court :no:

capslock
July 2nd, 2006, 03:59 PM
Brilliant news....but the NIMBYs taking the decision to the high court :no:

Shouldn't worry too much about that. They're just having a rant.

Excellent news! :cheers:

ferge
July 2nd, 2006, 04:23 PM
I don't think you could ask for a better tower to be the tallest of a southern coastal city.. its very lush, lol... Love it and glad its being built, come on Brighton.. show us what you're made of!

Madman
July 2nd, 2006, 05:07 PM
Its high but it wont be the tallest tower on the South Coast, for the jewel of the Solent ;) still has the Spinnaker.

warcry
July 2nd, 2006, 10:01 PM
Britain is truely reaching for the sky :)

Mikey
July 2nd, 2006, 11:46 PM
This will be the tallest residential seaside building in the uk. :D

Newcastle Guy
July 3rd, 2006, 02:23 PM
Could Brighton be the UK's Miami? (Not as in all the fake tits and botox etc...;)) as in the uk's 'hot' highrise beach side city?

Newcastle Guy
July 3rd, 2006, 02:26 PM
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/475BrightonMarinaRecommendedForApproval_pic1.jpg

wjfox
July 3rd, 2006, 02:40 PM
Could Brighton be the UK's Miami? (Not as in all the fake tits and botox etc...;)) as in the uk's 'hot' highrise beach side city?

Well, the approval of this tower sets a major precedent for future towers in the area. If it goes ahead, it will make it harder for additional towers to be blocked. So it's possible that Brighton could see a highrise 'boom' over the next few years. Perhaps not on the same scale as Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, etc. but I'd imagine there will be a few developers lining up to make their mark.

There's already the City Gateway Tower (135m) and New England Square (122m) planned by Beetham.


http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/349CityGatewayTower_pic1.jpg


http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/348NewEnglandSquare_pic1.jpg

JDRS
July 3rd, 2006, 03:26 PM
^ Eastgate tower anyone?

Now all Brighton needs is some sand ;)

Newcastle Guy
July 3rd, 2006, 03:52 PM
I like New England square, I think it's great. Hopefully with the approval of The marina tower this will be approved too

Newcastle Guy
July 3rd, 2006, 04:13 PM
http://www.magix-photos.com/mediapool00/54/48/6F/30/77/16/11/DA/85/15/20/23/52/27/29/83/oma/10/78B564000A9511DBB184D04CD9CDABAE.jpg

Ozzy
July 3rd, 2006, 04:48 PM
What a gorgeous tower it looks like something you would find on Australia's Gold Coast I love it!

eddyk
July 3rd, 2006, 04:55 PM
What about that Frank Gehry thing?

large
July 3rd, 2006, 05:05 PM
What about that Frank Gehry thing?


Been told to go back to the drawing board by CABE and EH, particularly wrt to public space and scale of supplementary buildings (not the towers).

I actually think Brighton could have a boom on a par with places like Brum and Manchester due to the sustainable demand for apartments (so close to London) and the constrained area in which to develop, and the strategic plan for areas of high density. The one area that could potentially be a mini Canary wharf is Shoreham harbour. There are acres of land with low grade housing, induistrial estates etc on one side and the sea on the other. It won't be in this property cycle, but in the middle of the next decade this may well be one of the big UK projects.

Wampa
July 3rd, 2006, 05:18 PM
Wow, I didn’t think this would ever get approval.

The people in those apartments up on the shore behind are going to go absolutely fucking mental about this. From memory, I believe most of the residents there are retired people, who have probably sold up to get their little place by the sea, somewhere to end their days. Then they get the backside of this in their faces...

http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/475BrightonMarinaRecommendedForApproval_pic1.jpg

Nice tower though.

Newcastle Guy
July 3rd, 2006, 05:44 PM
So they should sell up again, dig into their pension funds and buy a place in the actual tower instead;)

Wampa
July 3rd, 2006, 06:33 PM
...Not such a bad idea, especially if the developer gave the sea-viewing locals a small discount. It wouldn't be the first time a developer gave some form of compensation to disgruntled locals to make sure a large project went ahead.

Therefore... I hereby nominate newcastle kid to go door-to-door to announce this suggestion. Just one bit of advice: never underestimate the intensity of a Werther’s Original fuelled rage!

potto
July 3rd, 2006, 06:35 PM
:lol:

RSWB
July 3rd, 2006, 07:39 PM
The city gateway tower is proposed for a site very close to where the shoreham harbour regeneration scheme is to take place, maybe the developers of this tower are holding out until there are some firm proposals in place for the shoreham maritime project.

btw - Miami wanted to twin with Brighton a few years back but the council rejected it!

BenL
July 3rd, 2006, 07:46 PM
Interesting, because I was thinking this tower could fit in nicely in that city.

RSWB
July 3rd, 2006, 08:00 PM
The Brighton centre development is also a development to keep an eye on, something tall will be built on the site that's almost certain but how tall we're not quite sure yet, hopefully something truly special can be built there.

large
July 3rd, 2006, 11:22 PM
We rejected Miami!!!!

Skabbymuff
July 4th, 2006, 11:44 AM
ive just got back from brighton from a very long weekend attending the worlds largest graffiti jam, and i noticed this in the local paper when in the shops on sunday getting the beers in! made me very happy, i did not expect this to happen here. good for brighton!

gothicform
July 4th, 2006, 03:51 PM
here's a ncie pic of it -
http://www.skyscrapernews.com/images/pics/647BrightonMarinaApprovedThisTime_pic1.jpg

large
July 4th, 2006, 04:44 PM
I hope they charge less for the flats with the skinny balconies! Each new pic of this makes me love it more.