What to watch out for in Brighton 2016

23rd December 2015

Brighton is a city undergoing an enormous transformation, and much of that will begin in 2016. Major development projects that have been stuck in planning for years will finally break ground and others will finalise, ready for 2017.

2016 will be a big year for Brighton. Let's take a look at a few things to watch out for.

The i360 opens

Love it or hate it, the i360 is the biggest thing to happen to Brighton since the West Pier burnt down. The 162 metre tall, British Airways sponsored “world's tallest observation tower” is set to open in the summer, ready to lift 200 people a time into the sky for 26 mile views.

Whether it will have the hoped for regenerative effect on the Hove end of the seafront remains to be seen, but if the economic impact study is to be believed, it will bring significant revenue into the city.

Building a new Lane

Just as big a development for Brighton will be the building of Puget's Lane – a new entrance to the Lanes which will open a path from the Pavilion to the Town Hall, and most excitingly, reveal Puget's Cottage; a listed building that's been out of public view for 140 years that dates back to Brighthelmstone.

Development begins in Brighton Marina

Brighton Marina is due to undergo a radical redevelopment, with work to begin next year. Construction will be ongoing for years – a £250 million project for 900 new homes, a new hotel, seven restaurants, a new outdoor event space, and refurbishment of outdoor areas doesn't happen overnight – but the first changes should be visible within 2016.

At the very least, Hotel Seattle is expected to be rebranded and renovated after its sale to the group behind Hotel du Vin and Malmaison.

Decision on King Alfred

A major redevelopment for the King Alfred leisure centre has been on the cards for over a decade, but it looks like it will finally begin next year. The contract has been whittled down to two developers, and the council is expected to announce a decision in early 2016 as to who will carry out the development, and exactly what form that will take.

Royal Sussex redevelops

Final approval for two new buildings for Royal Sussex County Hospital was given in October 2015, and construction of the first of these is due to start in January 2016. Both buildings will be on the front half of the hospital and are part of a nine-year redevelopment programme for the outdated hospital.

Work on the Saltdean Lido restarts

Work on Saltdean Lido – the only Grade II listed lido in the country – hit a snag in 2015 when it was discovered that either an electricity substation had been mysteriously removed, or it had never been there in the first place. Either way, a new substation is required, which necessitated an extra £70,000 funding, which the council was unable to provide. Fundraising has been ongoing and we expect it to complete, with work recommencing, some time in 2016.

Next phase of New Homes for Neighbourhoods

The New Homes for Neighbourhoods scheme – where new social housing is constructed in existing neighbourhoods (as Brighton and Hove lacks both space and redundant council housing) – will see new homes become available in spring/summer 2016. They will be available for rent to council tenants, shared ownership and Help to Buy.

House prices continue to rise

London and the South East have seen property prices steadily increasing over the last couple of years, and we expect this to continue into 2016. Some commentators expect a cooling off in commercial property, in line with normal market cycles, but residential property prices will surely continue to rise, as Brighton and Hove becomes increasingly popular with young professionals and commuters.

Brilliant Brighton comes to an end

Brilliant Brighton is a Business Improvement District (BID) scheme whereby local businesses contribute to projects designed to benefit everyone. Over the last ten years it has paid for Christmas lights, security and a project to dress the city during summertime. The current five year term ends in June, at which point it comes up for renewal. If businesses decide they no longer want to support the scheme, we could lose these valuable measures that improve our city centre.

Earthship Brighton gets a refit

Finally, the Earthship in Stanmer Park is due to have a refit. The Earthship is an entirely self-sustaining house, with its own water and electricity supplies, designed to demonstrate and inspire more sustainable approaches to housing. Its water system and batteries need updating and upgrading in order to continue, which is due to take place in 2016.

Testimonials

  • Brilliant. Well done to Sharon and the Woodingdean team.

    Ms Curtis The Ridgway

  • Excellent service from the Lewes Road branch. Martin Timms secured a quick sale & at a good price & Paula Carter worked really hard to secure...

    Ms Schulte Bear Road

  • In February 2016 I was looking to buy and sell very rapidly. Competition among buyers at the time was very high. Sharon @ the Woodingdean branch sh...

    Ms Helen Lyons Woodingdean

  • Thanks David, all very professional.

    Mrs Flowers Foxdown Road

  • Our local office manager, Sharon Wareham was warm and friendly and kept us up to date at all times.

    Mr Hope The Brow

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    Mr Brown Titian Road

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    Miss O'Haire Hove

  • Ben and Paula were calm and reassuring throughout a very difficult process!

    Ms Easterbrook Bear Road

  • Excellent Service from start to finish.

    Mr T Mole Cromwell Road

  • I found the service to be courteous, friendly and efficient.

    Mr Upton Buller Road

  • It was a long, drawn out process that the people at Maslen helped me through, without the impression that it was a chore. So extremely professional...

    Mr McLagan Lewes Road

  • A very positive experience - I had most contact with the Fiveways office and they were so friendly and helpful.

    Ms A King Balfour Road

  • Very impressed with the service. Sharon Wareham works tirelessly, very professionally and is always there for advice. 

    Miss Matthews Kipling Avenue

  • Quality advice about when and how to sell, which was spot on. Thank you.

    Miss Coleman Buller Road

  • The team worked very hard over a long period to ensure my sale went through - excellent service!

    Mr Patrick Gladstone Terrace

  • Sharon and her team could not have done more in what was a difficult sale. 

    Ms Daly Woodingdean

  • The sale was dealt with swiftly, professionally and successfully. Thank you Maslen!

    Mrs Lincoln Hove

  • Very helpful and patient team.

    Mrs Shea Selborne Place

  • Many thanks to Nick. It was an easy process thanks to you! I'm extremely satisfied with how the sale went, great job.

    Ms Mayanobe Aymer Road

  • Cannot express our appreciation enough of all the efforts made by the Woodingdean team - they were fantastic.

    Mr John Mogridge Woodingdean

  • Service exceeded my expectations overall at all stages of the process - I wouldn't hesitate to recommend you. Thanks. 

    Ms Greene Lewes Road

  • A good team at Woodingdean helped us through a stressful time.

    Mr & Mrs Penton Sycamore Close

  • I would recommend Maslen to anyone. 

    Mrs Tripp Woodingdean

  • Very impressive - professional and friendly, both Martin Timms and Paula Carter were excellent at keeping in contact with sensible advice based on...

    Mrs O'Connor Hove

  • Sharon was excellent - kept us well informed, thank you so much!

    Ms Waters Cowley Drive

  • All very professional, kept updated throughout. Very pleased - Would recommend. 

    Mrs Hammond Hove

  • Very pleased with the service. Many thanks to Sharon and the boys!

    Mr Flynn Woodingdean

  • Paula was fabulous and we felt really informed and supported. 

    Mr & Mrs Walker Lewes Road

  • An efficient, professional and friendly service. Helpful and a pleasure to do business with.

    Mr Beddington Brading Road

  • Harvey was helpful and easily reachable at the beginning of the process and Sharon kept us informed and was always happy to help.

    Ms Murch & Ms Mapa Ticehurst Road

  • We were very impressed with the Nick from start to finish. 

    Mr & Mrs Smith Lewes Road

  • Very impressed with the efficient and friendly service, the staff were a pleasure to deal with. 

    Mr & Mrs Gill Lewes Road

  • We cannot recommend Maslen's estate agents enough.

    Many thanks to Paul, Donna, Janette and the...

    Linda & Les Wigmore Close

  • Graham Griffin provided us, and continues to provide us, will all-round excellent advice. We trust his knowledge and expertise.

    Mr Blackmore & Ms O'Sullivan Financial Services

  • Good team. Straightforward. No nonsense.

    Mr Standing Newmarket Road

  • Thanks for an excellent service. 

    Mr King Hove

  • Best Estate Agents ever experienced - professional, approachable, competent and exemplary. 

    Mr & Mrs Guest Riley Road

  • It was an amazing experience, everyone involved were fantastic. 

    Mr & Mrs Knight Woodingdean

  • Best Agents in Brighton.

    Mrs Field Tarner Road

  • Paul was absolutely brilliant. 

    Mrs Tasker Fiveways

  • Excellent communication and advice throughout. It felt very reassuring to be in good hands.

    Mrs Brooker Buller Road

  • Excellent customer service throughout. I will definitely recommend you, and use you again. Thank you.

    Ms Longley Kingsbury Street

  • Sharon was excellent, she kept us informed at all stages and was a really calming objective influence in the process.

    Ms Frederick Channel View Road

  • First class service. Friendly and professional.

    Mr Thorne The Avenue

  • Thank you. We found all the staff knowledgeable and really pleasant to deal with. 

    Ms Ansloos Lewes Road

  • We were delighted with the service received from all the staff with whom we had contact,

    Dr Crichton The Ridgway

  • Please thank Paula at Lewes Road - Excellent service. 

    Mr & Mrs Nuthall Lewes Road

  • First class service from a first class team.

    Mr & Mrs English The Ridgway

  • Very, very happy we chose you, felt right from the start! Thank you!

    Miss Blackadder Coniston Court, Holland Road

  • Very pleased with the excellent service throughout. Professional, friendly, efficient and no hard sell. Achieved above asking price. Thank you!

    Mr Witten Lewes Road

  • Very good service and communication. Paula was excellent.

    Mr & Mrs Scarboro 1 Pevensey Road

  • Paula was absolutely amazing!

    Mr & Mrs MacKay Lewes Road

  • Very pleased with the experience. I would definitely recommend you and use you again.

    Ms D Edmonds Horton Road

  • All the staff I dealt with were excellent. Sharon worked really hard to complete the sale.

    Mrs Bent Falmer Gardens

  • Outstanding service from Sharon. James is an asset to Maslens & Harvey was so helpful and polite.

    Ms Cianchetta Selhurst Road

  • Paula's role was brilliant. Having someone office based and available was so appreciated and her promptness an impressive service - every Estate Agent...

    Ms Wynn-Jones Baxter Street

  • The Woodingdean team were very friendly and approachable.

    Mrs Palmer Pitt Gardens

  • Sharon, Harvey and James were all excellent - very professional. Totally opposite to what I have experienced with other agents. Maslen have restore...

    Ms Lyons Woodingdean

  • Very comprehensive and professional. Nice people to work with and highly recommended. 

    Mr Alderton Ladysmith Road

  • All agents at Maslen were extremely helpful and polite from the beginning to the completion of sale. 

    Mr Johnson Fiveways

  • A really good experience.

    Mr Tibble Lewes Road

  • Compared to your rivals, your service was excellent

    Ms McGrigor Milner Road

  • A very committed team who made the sale process very easy.

    Ms Rees Ticehurst Road

  • As always, an excellent service. 

    Mr & Mrs Field Lewes Road

  • From start to finish the sale was dealt with in a thoroughly professional manner.  

    Mr Gibbs Lewes Road

  • Excellent service as always

    Mr Field Ringmer Road

  • The whole team were very committed from start to finish.

    Mr Pilgrim Lewes Road

  • Fantastic service. By far the best agents we have ever used, I cannot recommend you highly enough.

    Mr Field Mafeking Road

  • Hugely impressed with Ben & his team.

    Mrs Mead Upper Lewes Road

  • Superb service as usual, I would always recommend you.

    Ms S Hike Blackthorn Close

  • Extremely efficient. Nick and Paula are excellent. The weekly phone calls were much appreciated. 

    Ms Gray Lewes Road

  • Paul Wilkinson was extremely helpful and efficient. The only problem was the vendors solicitor and Paul warned me of this. A good transaction all r...

    Mr Lavender Fiveways

  • Very professional service. Thank you!

    Miss New & Mr Jackson Buller Road

  • Thank you for everything!

    Ms Tucker Willow Close

  • A completely painless experience from start to finish. Thank you.

    Mr Woolven & Mrs Bessant-Woolven Lewes Road

  • Sharon was amazing! She kept us up to date the whole way through the process. We cannot fault Sharon or the rest of her team. 

    Mr & Mrs Ashley Woodingdean

  • Sold within 2 weeks for asking price "excellent!"

    Mr Grundy Bishops Road

  • We were very pleased with services provided by the Fiveways office.

    Mr & Mrs Sawyer Shaftesbury Road

  • Already recommended you! Thank you.

    Mr Edwards The Ridgway

  • I wish we had used you to sell our property! Nice to meet honest people, who are genuinely interested in helping. Very pleased.

    Mrs Porter Taunton Road

  • Thank you Maslens, you were all excellent!

    Miss Jasper Taunton Road

  • Very thorough & very informative.

    Mr Michnowicz Waldegrave Road

  • I was new to the area and viewed a lot of properties with a lot of different agents. Maslens were by far the best I came in contact with, so when i...

    Mr & Mrs Heer Lewes Road

  • Paula is amazing!

    Ms Aspnall Gladstone Place

  • The whole team were excellent, each one of them felt like family. Sharon had a lot of sorting to do at times but coped very well, a true profession...

    Mr Vernon Woodingdean

  • Exceptional service throughout the process - should we decide to sell in the future we wouldn't hesitate to use your agency. You're a cut above the...

    Ms Windels & Mr Barham Fiveways

  • The staff were very helpful, an excellent service. I would recommend you to others.

    Miss Hockly Fiveways

  • Ben was particularly enthusiastic and helpful. Martin, Paula, Sam and Will are all hard workers.

    Ms Goodey Franklin Road

  • Thank you Paul and Archie, you gave an excellent service, as well as Kelly. I look forward to working with you again. 

    Mr White Fiveways

  • I have bought and sold 7 properties, and this was the best experience of an estate agents services I have found.

    Mrs Shepherd Hertford Road

  • Great service, always polite and friendly. Excellent contact and info all the way.

    Mr Wells Bishops Road

  • Very impressed with all dealings with Maslen. Paula Carter was in particular very knowledgeable and helpful. 

    Mr McBlane Hove

  • You were amazingly helpful throughout - a real pillar of strength with a very difficult sale.

    Mrs Parkin Fiveways

  • Maslens as a whole were really friendly and professional. I have to thank and congratulate Paula Carter for being superb at her job and exceeding m...

    Ms Warren Hove

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