Councillors raised objections to Labour-led authority’s £20m plan to raise funds through the dispose of public assets
Brighton and Hove City Council’s plan to dispose of several sites to increase investment in affordable housing has been called in for scrutiny by councillors.
The authority’s “capital asset strategy” aims to generate £20m in capital receipts to invest in its “housing first” council plan for 2023-27.
However, the decision attracted criticism after being approved at a committee meeting last month.
Councillors objected to the Labour-led council’s proposed privatisation of public assets and said the decision had been made with insufficient scrutiny.
Four buildings have been identified for disposal, including Homewood School, a special education centre that closed in December.
The other properties listed were a vacant cottage in Stanmer village, an old school caretaker’s house in Hangleton Way and an empty property in Shenfield Way.
According to council documents, Brighton and Hove’s capital asset strategy prioritises housing supply and regeneration, including that of Madeira Terrace, a stretch of seafront arches and promenade, and the King Alfred leisure centre.
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Approved in February 2025, the strategy identified the need for £20 million net receipts to carry out the council’s housing and infrastructure plans. The move to sell some of its assets aims to contribute to this requirement.
The council warned that failure to deliver capital receipts would result in the cancellation of projects in the capital programme and cuts to frontline services such as housing, social care and street cleaning.
It also said that retaining surplus properties like the ones it hopes to dispose of will incur holding and operational costs that will impact council resources and finances.
The Place Overview and Scrutiny Committee call-in panel meeting will take place on 19 May.
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