THE cost of building a permanent travellers’ site in Brighton has rocketed so much that councillors could have bought each traveller a new house for the same price.

The cost of adding 12 new permanent pitches to the Horsdean travellers’ site has risen to £2.4 million because of contamination concerns over the city’s water supply.

Costs to add the new pitches to the existing transit site in Patcham in time for next summer have risen by 40%.

Conservative councillors have described the rise as “unacceptable” and say the equivalent cost of £200,000 per new pitch would pay for “a fabulous four bedroom house”.

They have called for work on the site, which is due to start next month, to be suspended for urgent reviews into health risks and costs.

Brighton and Hove City Council officers said the rise was due to inflation in building costs and additional drainage work while traveller support groups said the site would save taxpayers money once it was operating.

The additional work to protect the city’s drinking water will prevent pollutants from the Horsdean site entering the man-made tunnel underneath which collects water drawn by Patcham pumping station.

Original funding for the site was covered by a Homes and Communities Agency grant but councillors will be asked next week to agree to £300,000 of additional council funding for the project.

Conservative councillor Lee Wares, who uncovered the costs through a freedom of information request, said: “It is an unbelievable amount of money to be spent on essentially creating 12 concrete hard stands each with a toilet and shower hut. For £200k you could build a fabulous four bedroom house.”

Councillor Wares also raised concerns about Environment Agency stipulations that no chemicals such as fuels, paints, bleaches or cleaning detergents should be used or stored at Horsdean.

He said that would make it almost impossible for travelling families to use the site.

Conservative group leader, councillor Geoffrey Theobald, said “This is a totally unacceptable situation.

“Not only will risks remain to the city’s water supply but council taxpayers will have to fork out an extra £700,000.”

Abbie Kirkby, advice and policy manager from Brighton-based Friends, Family and Travellers, said: “Families using the permanent and transit pitches will be paying council tax and putting money back into the council as well as reducing the cost of evictions around the city, which will mean huge savings.

“The council did a big search for an appropriate location for the new permanent site and Horsdean is the one they decided is the most suitable.”

A Brighton and Hove City Council spokeswoman said: “The council’s policy and resources committee on July 9 will be requested to approve an additional £300,000 to cover the increase in costs.”