The Preston and Old Patcham Society was founded in 1973. Our work is concerned with maintaining a sense of continuity in the community and matters related to conservation issues. The Society embraces the area between Ditchling Road, Springfield Road, Dyke Road, Snakey Lane, Patcham village, Withdean, Westdean, Varndean and the surrounding downland.

The Society plants trees from time to time. We check significant planning applications weekly. We are represented on the Conservation Advisory Group which advises Brighton City Council’s Planning Applications Sub-Committee on matters of conservation and listed buildings.

We hold occasional meetings to which we welcome all members.

Sainsbury’s won their appeal to convert Caffyns Garage in Preston village to a Sainsbury’s Local and have started work on the site.  The appeal was against the refusal of their second planning application for a Sainsbury’s Local which was unanimously refused planning permission – on 27 April 2011 – by the Planning Committee against the advice of Council officers, which was to grant permission.

The Council’s case officer had given the reasons why permission should be granted subject to conditions: the proposed change of use of the site would not harm the character or appearance of the Conservation Area, the amenities of local residents, the local shopping centres, or highway safety.

The applicants had supplied detailed evidence to confirm that the two retail units cannot be located within existing centres, and that the vitality and viability of these local shopping centres, including the adjacent parade, will not be unduly harmed. The inspector at the public inquiry thought otherwise.

Furthermore, the access, unloading and parking arrangements will not unduly pressurise local facilities, will not result in increased highway safety risk, and would not significantly harm the amenities of local residents. The proposal is considered to be in accordance with local development plan policies and national policy guidance.

The Preston & Old Patcham Society had lodged an objection to Sainsbury’s Local on the Caffyns garage site solely on traffic grounds. The Council’s case officer did not agree with us. 

Caffyns closed at the end of October 2008, and at the beginning of 2010 Sainsbury’s submitted a planning application for a Sainsbury’s Local within most of the existing structure. The report which went to the Planning Committee of 22 September 2010, with the recommendation that planning permission for Sainsbury’s Local on the Caffyns site in Preston Road be refused.

The Preston & Old Patcham Society previously expressed concern over the traffic arrangements for accessing, parking, loading and unloading on the site. We sought advice and were warned that these concerns still applied.

THIS IS GOOD NEWS. There is likely to be space for smaller firms and rooms for the community to rent. The Preston & Old Patcham Society have always considered that offices were the best use for Patcham Place as the conversion would do the least damage to the interior of the building, unlike a hotel with many bathrooms and lots of plumbing. Small start-up offices are also a good idea, we do not have enough of them in Brighton and they encourage new businesses to establish themselves.

Patcham Place, grade II* listed, is now in the South Downs National Park. It has been empty since 2007 when the Youth Hostels Association’s lease expired, except for a temporary occupier Camelot Property Management.

The Council now propose to lease the building for a number of years. It is most suitable for office space which would do least damage to the interior which is protected by the listing.

HISTORIC DEVELOPMENT OF PATCHAM PLACE & STABLES
Patcham Place was probably built by Richard Shelley between 1524 and his death in 1552. The estate was sold to Anthony Stapley. By 1662 the house is recoreded as having 16 hearths. Patcham Place was purchased by John Paine in 1764, and by 1782 he had altered and extended the building northwards to take on much of its present form. The black mathematical tiles were probably added between 1783 and 1803. A coach house and stables – which are separately listed grade II – are set in a walled courtyard and were constructed behind the main building from the late 18th century.

Schemes for offices and an hotel would generate an enormous amount of car borne traffic as the site is not well served by public transport. The Preston & Old Patcham Society will continue to oppose these kinds of proposals.

A tower, between 8 and 13 storeys high, may replace Anston House. It is being claimed as a focal point for the gateway to the city, but the Pylons on the city boundary on the A23 are already the gateway to the City, we do not need another.

Gateways and icons are dangerous words as they usually mean that the architect showing off.

It would be the centre piece of a mixed-use site with 0ffice use, affordable housing and even some shops, (a foolish idea as these would not be viable and there are a number of shops in nearby Beaconsfield Road). It could also include live/work units (which would soon turn into live units), small workshops, studios, mini-office spaces which might be more likely to attract users.

The site, which has been derelict for 20 years,  is now owned by a specialist private bank Investec, who intend to employ Urban Splash as part of a team to transform the site (this makes us nervous). Plans for the site are expected to be unveiled next year, with a planning application to be submitted shortly afterwards.

This was previously the site of a line of grand Victorian villas which stretched from the Rose Garden at the south end of Preston Park all the way to Patcham. They provided a wonderful foil to the Park.

People who wish to become elm protection volunteers in East Sussex are asked to ring East Sussex County Council on 0845 6080194.

The Patcham Conservation Area Appraisal has been approved.

It is proposed that the Conservation Area should be extended to include Coney Wood and the Recreation Ground.

Changes to control of alterations to single family houses within the Conservation Area are also recommended to reduce the threat of losing traditional architectural features and other inappropriate alterations.

The original Conservation Area boundary was designated in 197o and extended in 1972 and 1992. The Preston and Old Patcham Society welcome these proposals.

THE PRESTON & OLD PATCHAM SOCIETY is proud to be able to present The Muriel Elms Collection, a very special set of photographs, slides and postcards that show old Patcham from days gone by.

We are lucky to have been been given the opportunity to digitise this collection of more than 100 images. We are currently showing a total of 30 images here in the site. Muriel Elms is giving the collection to the Brighton & Hove Archaeological Society. We are very grateful for the loan of the material to display in our site.

Muriel Elms built up this collection over a lifetime and used the slides to illustrate her talks on Patcham to local groups. The Collection is also well-known to local historians.

Here in the section of the site we have titled, Who Was Muriel Elms? you can find out more about the author of this unique collection of images. The information comes from a talk given by Muriel herself, to local community groups, supported by her collection of photographs.

Who Was Muriel Elms? >
View Collection >