Delivered in partnership with U+I, Brighton & Hove City Council and the University of Brighton, the scheme reimagines a key gateway site as a vibrant, mixed-use neighbourhood.

Designed by Studio Egret West, the masterplan brings together new homes, community infrastructure and university life through a network of streets, public spaces and active frontages. Across eight buildings ranging from four to eleven storeys, the development delivers 369 homes above a shared podium integrating parking and commercial uses.

Alongside its scale and ambition, the project presented a complex brief—bringing together multiple tenures, evolving regulations and a phased delivery programme across a dense urban site.

Appointed as Executive Architect, we played a central role in translating the masterplan into a deliverable, coordinated scheme, working closely with Southern Housing to support their transition into mixed-tenure development.

We adapted layouts to accommodate affordable rent, shared ownership and private sale within a single, cohesive framework—ensuring consistency in quality and user experience across all homes. As the project progressed, our role evolved to focus on delivery, completion and handover, working alongside Roberts Gallagher Construction to resolve technical challenges and maintain momentum on site.

We supported the final completion of Blocks A and J, coordinated Safety in Use Brief information, and undertook NDSS reviews on behalf of the client. At the same time, we helped navigate late-stage compliance and certification requirements—providing clarity and assurance at a critical point in the programme.

Working with the contractor and specialist supply chain, we also developed bespoke façade solutions, including detailed brickwork, balancing architectural intent with buildability, performance and regulatory change.

Now complete, Preston Barracks has established a well-connected, design-led neighbourhood that brings together homes, community and campus life in a cohesive urban environment.

The scheme supports modern living while contributing to the wider regeneration of Brighton—creating active public spaces, improving connectivity and strengthening the relationship between the city and the university.