Kings House, Hove

Kings House, Hove in 2018.

Kings House is a Grade II listed building in Hove that was previously used as offices by Brighton and Hove City Council. It is situated in Grand Avenue.[1]

History

Kings House was built between 1871 and 1874 by James Knowles; originally it was built as seven mansion blocks, and was based on the style of Osborne House on the Isle of Wight.[2][3][4] It then became a hotel, called the Prince's Hotel, before being used by the Royal Navy during the Second World War.[4][5] In 1948, the building was bought by SEEBOARD to use as the company headquarters, before being bought by Brighton and Hove City Council in 1996.[5][3] In 1974, the building became a Grade II listed building.[5][6]

In July 2014, Kings House was put up for sale for £10 million, as part of a cost saving plan.[7][8] By 2015, the valuation of the property had increased to around £20 million, with staff being relocated from the building to Hove Town Hall by December 2016.[9] It was sold for £26 million in July 2017 to Mortar Nova Grand Avenue, a joint venture development vehicle between developer Rego Property and Pacific Investments. The buyer plans to turn the building back into housing.[10]

In July 2018, new partners joined the joint venture with the original partners exited.[11] The new partner is a REPE Fund managed by a Hong Kong–based asset management company - Tianli Financial Limited, whereas Rego Property remain as the development manager.[citation needed] In September 2019, the development work kicked started,[12] and it completed in July 2021.[13]

References

  1. ^ "Brighton council considers selling King's House". BBC News. 5 September 2013. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  2. ^ "The Streets of Brighton & Hove". Brighton History. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  3. ^ a b Ridgway, Tim (23 May 2012). "Brighton and Hove City Council muse selling Kings House". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  4. ^ a b Trimingham, Adam (8 August 2011). "Grand Avenue through the years..." The Argus. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  5. ^ a b c Nemeth, Robert (5 October 2005). "King's House". Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  6. ^ "The Brighton and Hove Summary Lists of Listed Buildings" (PDF) (pdf). Brighton and Hove City Council. 28 January 2016. p. 20. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  7. ^ Ridgway, Tim (4 September 2013). "Brighton and Hove Council set to sell off Kings House". The Argus. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  8. ^ Vowles, Neil (3 July 2014). "Council offices set to go on the market". The Argus. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  9. ^ Vowles, Neil (26 October 2015). "Sale of prime seafront offices could end up netting council £24 million". Eastbourne Independent. Retrieved 10 June 2016.
  10. ^ le Duc, Frank (20 July 2017). "Council sells former Hove seafront HQ for £26m for housing". Brighton and Hove News. Retrieved 20 July 2017.
  11. ^ "Persons with significant control". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  12. ^ "Welcome To | Kings House Hove". Welcome To | Kings House Hove. Retrieved 22 July 2021.
  13. ^ "Plush new flats almost complete as part of multi-million pound development". The Argus. Retrieved 22 July 2021.

50°49′29″N 0°10′06″W / 50.8246°N 0.1682°W / 50.8246; -0.1682