Part of a Grade II listed pumping station could be turned into a yoga studio amid wider plans to secure the historic building’s preservation. The owners of the British Engineerium in The Droveway, Hove, said the scheme would place the organisation on a “more financially viable footing”. The building, which formerly housed the Goldstone Pumping Station (water works), closed as a museum in 2006 and was bought in 2022 by Luke Johnson, who is chairman of the Brighton Pier Group, and Paul Dolan.
The pumping station, which was built in 1866, ceased to be fully operational in the late 1940s and fully closed in 1952 when steam power was replaced. The building was almost demolished in 1971 but was saved by Jonathan Minns in 1974, who then opened the site as a museum in 1976 and named it The British Engineerium. Read more: More flats could be built in city centre Planning documents submitted to Brighton and Hove City Council said since the purchase, the trustees (Mr Johnson and Mr Dolan) have been repairing and maintaining the buildings within the estate.
They said the proposals are part of an initiative to bring one of the buildings back into use and place the “organisation on a more financially viable footing to better secure the Engineerium’s long-term preservation”. Documents said the studio will hold classes for around 30 people between the hours of 7am and 9pm, Monday to Sunday, and that two full-time and three part-time staff would be employed. The proposals do not involve any external alterations to the gatehouse and architects said it will not have an impact on the character of the area.
“The proposed change of use to a yoga and Pilates studio and a place for dance and movement classes would bring the gatehouse building back into economic use, which might otherwise remain largely empty and only used for storage,” the application’s planning statement said. “It will generate a small but helpful number of employment opportunities. “This proposal brings the building fully back into use ensuring it will be fully maintained for its new intended purpose and includes new accessible toilet facilities and storage space.
This will provide an additional income stream which can be utilised for upkeep and enhancement of the wider British Engineerium estate. “The application aids the growth and accessibility of a much-loved community site, with the proposed recreational activities in the building being made available to all.”.
