Karis Holdings is undertaking a thorough review of the King Alfred project to ensure that it continues to be viable in the current economic climate. The review is expected to take another four weeks to complete and Karis remains committed to delivering an outstanding scheme for Brighton & Hove.
Plans by Karis Developments to redevelop Dresden House, a former residential care home in Albany Villas and Medina Villas have been welcomed by Brighton & Hove City Council.
Councillors unanimously backed the plans and granted planning permission for the conservation led scheme, which will restore the substantial Victorian villas to their original grandeur. A mix of beautiful homes will be created and unsympathetic extensions and alterations, including unsightly infill buildings and highly visual fire escapes will be removed improving and enhancing the character and appearance of Cliftonville Conservation Area.
A range of 32 beautiful homes will be created including four substantial family houses each occupying an entire villa together with a mix of one, two and three bedroom flats and duplex apartments.
Josh Arghiros, Managing Director of Karis Developments said:
“We are delighted that Councillors have unanimously supported our plans for Dresden House in Medina Villas and Albany Villas. These wonderful properties are in a fantastic position, in one of the most desirable areas in Hove and we are very pleased that we now have the opportunity to return these unique and very special villas to their original splendour.
Unfortunately the previous use as a care home did not respect the Victorian architecture and the properties have been neglected for far too long. The plans have been developed to restore original features and enhance the conservation area and it will be wonderful to see the villas brought back into use as beautiful homes.”
John Robinson of Karis added:
“The proposals have been widely supported by local residents and we look forward to starting work on site in the very near future.”
Councillors of all parties welcomed the plans, commenting at the committee meeting ‘that it is a great scheme’ and ‘will look glorious’.
Further Information
The proposals to change the use from vacant residential care home to form 32 self-contained residential units were approved at the Planning Applications Sub-Committee on 7 May 2008, planning application number BH2008/00210.
Dresden House closed in April 2005 (Albany Villas element) and April 2006 (Medina Villas element).
The development will create 32 homes, all will have access to private amenity space:
Albany Villas
12 private apartments
12 affordable apartments in partnership with Southern Housing Group
Medina Villas
Four family homes with private garden
Four duplex apartments with private garden
In addition to the affordable housing Karis will also be providing funding for Public Art, Education, Open Space and Highways.
Please click the link below to download and listen to Neil Pringle interview Josh, as broadcast on BBC Southern Counties Radio on Friday 11 April 2008.
© Copyright 2008 Karis Ltd.