Varndean College - The Latest

The saga of Varndean College continues to unfold. Very considerable opposition has been expressed to the proposal to demolish the old school and start all over again. Over 3,000 leaflets were distributed by the Preston & Old Patcham Society, with two reprints being necessary due to demand. It is understood a lot of people have written in to the Planning Department, and there was certainly a real flurry of opposing letters in the 'Argus'.
 
That opposition to the demolition is not based on the idea of keeping the school in aspic. Nobody is happy with the awful temporary buildings, many of which are in a disgraceful state. All parties recognise that current education methods may well need differing spaces in which to work, but the big question is how much difference is really necessary. The planning application is very short on detail - or any real statement - of the alleged problem in retaining the building. It seems that - astonishingly - only a superficial analysis has been done on the relative merits of retention and development versus demolition.
 
The arguments for demolition stated in the application are desperately weak, and make statements such as the present building is in a 'poor state of repair'. Yet independent consultants are of the view that the present building will almost certainly long outlast the proposed new building, simply because building standards and methods have changed towards cheaper and easier-to-erect materials. The problems of the new Downs View College building are well-known - expensive repeatedly broken glass, sliding sedum planted roof, etc.Yet those old cavity brick and mortar walls presently standing so proudly on site were built to last - and last they will, for at least another fifty years.
 
If the case for demolition is so weak, and with many at the College saying they would like to have retained the iconic facade and the trademark cloisters, what is the reason for this bizarre notion of destroying a really solid building, one that is a central feature of this part of Brighton? What also is the reason the College is proposing to lumber itself with crippling loan repayments for its part of the £44 million costs, when its own finances are already in uncertain shape? Why too would it want to impair the education of its students for at least the three years of construction, and possible long after? The answer is that it is the big pot of money that the Learning & Skills Council are desperate to get rid of before they are closed down in two years time. It is their pressure that has pushed the College into this quite extraordinary proposal.
 
What is the present situation? Because of the amount of opposition the planning application will not now be considered until mid January, so there is still time for people to write in with a 'late objection', to Paul Earp, Case Officer, Development Control, Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove, BN3 3BQ, or e-mail planning.applications @brightonhove.gov.uk.

Posted: 28th of January 2009