Changes to the repainting programme for historic properties in Brunswick Square and Terrace could become permanent, as the council works with residents to ensure the unique heritage of the area is maintained.
Under the Hove Borough Act 1976, property owners are required to repaint their buildings, including the iron railings and balconies, every five years.
But during the Covid pandemic, councillors agreed to extend the repainting period by a year, meaning the properties are due to be repainted in 2026.
The currently specified masonry paint is no longer being manufactured, so officers are working with the Friends of Brunswick Square & Terrace to specify an alternative masonry paint (product and colour). They are also looking to remove the requirement for property owners to buy from a batch held by a specific decorator’s merchant.
In order to do this, officers are seeking advice from a specialist heritage consultant from the Royal Institute of British Architects, in accordance with the provisions of the Hove Borough Council Act.
Council officers are also considering finalising arrangements to extend the repainting period permanently, from every five years to every six.
Once the new arrangements have been confirmed, which should be by the end of the year, officers will write to all freeholders, leaseholders and managing agents with the final details.
Councillor Birgit Miller, Cabinet member for Culture, Heritage and Tourism, said: “The Covid pandemic led to an unplanned experiment to see if the current painting cycle for Brunswick properties was still appropriate.
“Coupled with the benefits of new paint technologies, we hope that the changes we are planning to make to the provision and paint specification will save residents money when they embark on the latest round of repainting next spring.”
The council’s planning and building control service will also be making changes to the monitoring regime to ensure that the correct paint is used. It will review the overall condition of the square during the autumn of 2030 to ensure that the new approach is working.
