How one of the UK’s most vibrant spots was almost lost

Tucked in the heart of Brighton is the North Laine.

It is a vibrant, colourful part of the city, packed with hundreds of independent shops, cafes, pubs and restaurants.

But it did not always used to be this way.

“The area was very rundown after the Second World War,” said Sue Delafons, chair of the North Laine Community Association (NLCA).

“The houses were in a bad way – some had trees growing out of them. A lot of the industry there had closed down or moved away.”

With the North Laine in a state of dilapidation, plans were mooted in the mid 1960s that could have altered the area beyond recognition.

The council had already demolished most properties around Blackman Street at the start of the 1960s after the Brighton medical officer declared them “unfit”.

This area was then partially rebuilt with the construction of Theobold House in 1966 – then the tallest council block – which still towers over the North Laine today.

“Councils throughout the country were trying to deal with the shortage and poor quality of the housing stock that had been caused by bombing in the war and neglect of Victorian terraces,” says the NLCA.

“Concrete buildings symbolised progress and were cheap to build – moreover, because they could be put up quickly… the tax base could be kept,” it adds.