Dozens of crumbling seafront arches could be knocked down and rebuilt. Brighton and Hove City Council has submitted a planning application to demolish and reconstruct arches 125 to147 under King's Road and the demolition of the facade and reconstruction of arches 148 to 149. The stretch of arches, which run west from Shelter Hall, is home to businesses including the Copper Clam, Brighton Music Hall and the council's seafront office.
There are increasing concerns about the structural integrity of the arches following previous collapses. In 2014 the A259 fell into the Fortune of War pub in the historic arches below . “In recent times the road’s underlying arched structure has failed in numerous places and extensive highways repair works are needed to remedy this,” said planning documents.
“Resolving the arches’ weakened integrity is the primary driver behind this development scheme and requires a wholesale structural overhaul as opposed to a material renovation. “The existing arched structures are beginning to show inherent signs of failure and will be replaced by a new concrete structure. The masonry facade has suffered irreversible degradation and is showing signs of cracking, spalling and discolouring.
“The arches’ historic fenestration pattern has also been altered, damaged and lost through the years and the elevation now presents a tired and disparate frontage onto the seafront. “The internal conditions within the arches have also proven inappropriate for.