Following the approval of its Build to rent scheme in Hove in March 2020, Moda Living has completed the final step in achieving planning permission. The £260m, 824 home intergenerational neighbourhood will create 560 full-time jobs on the rundown Sackville Trading Estate next to Hove station. Development on the site is expected to begin in 2021.
In a joint venture with Apache Capital Partners, Moda has taken the final step toward realising a home vision for the site – by signing a Section 106 community legal agreement. The community agreement is one of the largest planning contributions to public amenity by a private company in Brighton & Hove in a decade – over £10m in total which will be invested locally in infrastructure, education, public art and helping the local community.
“As an operator first and foremost, we’re looking to invest and grow in the communities we seek to create. Hove will be as much a home for Moda, as for our residents. That’s why we’re so happy to be able to invest in the ways set out in this Section 106 – that’s £10m into the local community, including over £4m on projects spanning education, employment, sport, public art and green spaces, alongside the creation of over 560 full-time jobs.
James Blakey, Planning Director, Moda Living
The rundown brownfield site – on the Sackville Estate – will be transformed into a thriving intergenerational community with 564 new Build to Rent homes and 260 later living homes. 10% of the units will be affordable housing, which is over the Council’s suggestion that the site was not viable for affordable housing. Rent charged for these homes will be at least 25% below Local Market Rent – an important step towards tackling Hove’s housing crisis.
Amenities include a gym, wellbeing zones, communal lounges with events and wellbeing workshops, 50,000 sq ft of office and co-working space to foster emerging businesses/SME’s, restaurants, shops, a village hall, five communal roof terraces, gardens, open spaces, internet and reduced electricity costs.
“Our Build to Rent neighbourhoods are introducing a completely new way of living and working. We provide more opportunities, amenities, options and facilities than ever before, all built sustainably with an especially strong commitment to their local communities, something that is even more important at difficult times such as this. At Moda we are certain that service and support for residents must be at the core of what we do.”
James Blakey, Planning Director, Moda Living
Moda will also invest into recreation amenities and sustainable transport initiatives – including a bike scheme giving an environmentally friendly, healthy and economical means of transport. For those who need a car for the day, there will be a Car Club provided by Enterprise for residents to hire or share.
“This is great news as our communities will now be able to see the benefits of the regeneration of this tired area. I’m particularly looking forward to seeing nearly £1.8m spent on outdoor/indoor sports, parks and gardens, children’s play space, allotments and our greenspace. With Council budgets slashed and the residents of Hove needing enhanced outdoor space in our Covid-19 era, this money will fulfil this need.”
Peter Kyle, MP for Hove
