Pharma group eyes £20m bingo hall conversion

Plans to convert a bingo hall in Brighton into a new mixed-use headquarters building for an expanding pharmaceutical company have been recommended for approval ahead of a planning committee meeting this month.Custom Pharmaceuticals is seeking planning permission to convert Beacon Bingo on Fairway Trading Estate in Moulsecoomb Way into a new operations centre with manufacturing, R&D, office and warehousing space.The 200-strong company specialises in pharmaceutical product development, manufacturing, packaging, distribution and testing. It produces 1.25 billion tablets per year.The business currently operates two sites: its main development and manufacturing site on Conway Street in Hove, where it has been based since 1979, and its packaging and distribution centre on Fairway Trading Estate, adjacent to the bingo hall.In planning documents filed with Brighton & Hove City Council, Custom Pharmaceuticals said it has outgrown its Conway Street site and has been searching for new premises for about five years without success.The bingo hall is “the only site that is suitable for the company’s size and access requirement”, the business said, and also has the added benefit of being adjacent to its existing packaging and distribution centre.The proposed scheme will involve more than £20m of investment over the next three to four years, and will create about 50 new jobs.Planning officers at Brighton & Hove City Council have recommended the scheme for approval ahead of a planning committee meeting on 11 May.