Council to Issue Initial Demolition Notices to Tenants of 8 Large Panel System Buildings in Brighton and Hove
One of the council's large panel system buildings
Brighton & Hove City Council will issue Initial Demolition Notices this month to secure tenants of its eight large panel system (LPS) housing buildings. The council describes it as the next stage in its plans to redevelop the buildings and replace them with new energy efficient homes.
Residents of Falcon Court, Heron Court, Kestrel Court, Kingfisher Court and Swallow Court in north Whitehawk, Dudeney Lodge and Nettleton Court in Hollingdean, and St James's House in Kemp Town have been given a further update as the council moves to this stage.
The council says issuing the notices is a necessary legal step and does not mean the buildings will be demolished imminently.
Source: Brighton & Hove City Council news release, 8 October 2026
What an Initial Demolition Notice does
The council says the notices are a formal way of telling secure tenants that it intends to demolish the buildings in the future. According to the council, the notices:
- stay in place for up to 7 years
- suspend mutual exchanges
- suspend any Right to Buy applications
During that 7 year period, and once proposals for the redevelopment of the buildings have been finalised, a second notice called the Final Demolition Notice will be served. The council says that notice will provide the timeline for the demolition of the buildings.
The council says it has kept up regular communication with residents living in the buildings about what this means for them, and is continuing to support them through the process of rehousing in suitable alternative homes.
What the Cabinet Member for Housing said
"We do appreciate this is an unsettling situation for residents of the buildings."
"It is important to reassure them that serving these notices do not mean that demolition is imminent. Redevelopment is a lengthy process and it'll take us some time to get to that stage."
Councillor Gill Williams, Cabinet Member for Housing, Brighton & Hove City Council
Councillor Williams added that the council has been in touch with residents directly to explain the process, and described this stage as "very much administrative". Councillor Williams said recognising that these are people's homes "remains at the top of our agenda".
Why the buildings are being replaced
The council says structural surveys found that the eight buildings no longer meet current safety standards for withstanding a collapse in the case of an explosion or large fire. The council's information page says the surveys were carried out by specialist engineers and analysed by the Building Research Establishment (BRE).
The council's information page says there is no immediate danger to the buildings. In its March 2026 announcement, the council said that following the surveys it had put in place additional measures to ensure the buildings remain safe to occupy for all residents.
The council looked at strengthening and refurbishing the buildings as an alternative. At the Cabinet meeting in July 2025, Councillor Williams said that would only buy 20 more years, at great cost and disruption, without solving the core safety issues.
How the council got here
Before July 2025
Structural surveys find the eight buildings do not meet current safety standards, according to the council.
17 July 2025
Cabinet agrees in principle to regenerate the sites, including demolishing the existing buildings to provide new council housing.
October 2025 to January 2026
The council surveys affected residents and people on the housing register, according to its information page.
11 March 2026
The council announces a Cabinet report for 19 March recommending the formal decision to proceed, including serving initial demolition notices. It says the consultation drew feedback from over half of all LPS households.
19 March 2026
Cabinet approves the Rehousing Policy and a Local Lettings Plan for the eight buildings, according to the council's decision record.
8 October 2026
The council says Initial Demolition Notices will be issued this month.
At the July 2025 Cabinet meeting, Councillor Williams also said creating more family sized homes should reduce the wait for a 3-bedroom home from the average of 8 years.
Where rehousing starts: St James's House, Kemp Town
The council's rehousing programme is planned in phases over several years. In its March 2026 announcement, the council said it would begin with St James's House in Kemp Town, followed by Nettleton Court and Dudeney Lodge, and then the north Whitehawk buildings.
The council also said rehousing officers would begin supporting secure tenants building by building from April, starting with St James's House, through a new dedicated LPS Rehousing Team.
North Whitehawk
Five of the eight buildings are in north Whitehawk: Falcon Court, Heron Court, Kestrel Court, Kingfisher Court and Swallow Court.
Hollingdean
Two are in Hollingdean: Dudeney Lodge and Nettleton Court.
The council's information page gives an earlier timetable that Nettleton Court and Dudeney Lodge would follow from December 2026, with the north Whitehawk buildings phased from 2027. That page also says no one will be asked to move right away.
Support for tenants and leaseholders
The council's information page sets out the support on offer. It says:
- Secure tenants keep their secure tenancy when they move.
- Tenants who want to move now can apply to the housing register and get a minimum Priority B banding to start bidding.
- Eligible secure tenants can claim statutory compensation, currently £8,100 for a home loss payment or £2,000 for a statutory disturbance payment.
- Resident leaseholders are offered the independent open market valuation plus a 10% uplift, and non-resident leaseholders the valuation plus 7.5%.
- Temporary accommodation and Seaside Homes residents will be helped to find suitable alternative accommodation.
The March 2026 report also recommended a pilot Home Ownership Pact, offering eligible tenants a targeted grant of £40,000 to £50,000, depending on the size of the property, to help buy a home on the open market. The council said that if agreed it would introduce the scheme later this year.
In March 2026 the council said it would host fortnightly coffee mornings and evening drop-ins for residents.
What happens next
The Initial Demolition Notices are due to be issued this month. The next formal step the council describes is the Final Demolition Notice, which it says will be served once redevelopment proposals are finalised and will set the timeline for demolition.
A trade notice published in January 2026 shows the council was seeking design teams for the Hollingdean and Whitehawk sites, with a five year initial term for the contract.
Sources and further reading
- Council news: next stage in redevelopment of the large panel systems buildings (October 2026)
- Council information page: large panel system (LPS) high-rise buildings
- Council news: decision on next steps for the buildings (18 July 2025)
- Cabinet decision, July 2025: options appraisal
- Cabinet decision, March 2026: rehousing policy and leaseholder offer consultation
- The Developer: council seeks design teams (January 2026)
This article is based on Brighton & Hove City Council news releases and Cabinet papers. For more council housing and development news, see housing news on ImJustBrighton.
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