Oxford International College sits in the centre of the small village of Ovingdean near Brighton and it has approximately 100 students/pupils in residence. The college has submitted a planning application to Brighton & Hove Council to undergo a substantial expansion plan which will see their capacity/usage increase by five times what it has been in recent years. Oxford International College’s expansion plans are to accommodate approximately 400 boarding pupils and 100 day pupils. 

The village of Ovingdean currently has approximately 1200 residents. If Oxford International College is granted permission to proceed with these plans, this increase in pupil numbers, along with the proportionate increase in teaching and ancillary staff needed to accommodate them, would result in an approximately 50% increase in the population residing/visiting daily the village of Ovingdean. This would inevitably generate substantial ongoing pressure on roads, parking, and local amenities, far beyond what the community can reasonably absorb.

The proposed new residential accommodation blocks for boarding pupils can only be constructed by removing trees with preservation orders on the them (TPO's). While, the new multi-use games area (MUGA) is huge and it is planned to be moved from the site of the existing MUGA (in the centre of the college grounds), to be located directly behind the residential properties in Ainsworth Avenue/Ainsworth Close. It will be floodlit and used extensively by the college, and they have also stated that they intend to “sub-let” the MUGA to outside organisations and it could be used up to 9.00pm every evening and weekends, including throughout the summer months when the students are away. This will create not only noise and light pollution but also a significant increase in footfall, traffic movements, and parking pressures, compounding the disturbance to neighbouring residents, many of whom are elderly and at home throughout the day and evening.

This application is all about the College and not enough about the residents of this small village. We ask the Council planners to reject it.