Plans for £65 million seafront leisure centre approved

A decision has been made on £65 million plans to build a new seafront leisure centre.

Following a special council meeting at Hove Town Hall today, July 29, plans to replace the King Alfred Leisure Centre, in Hove, with a modern complex were approved

The meeting, which began at 2pm, lasted 5 and a half hours and saw 8 committee members vote for the application, with one against.

Ahead of the meeting, protesters gather outside joining in chants and listening to speeches from campaigners.

Protesters outside Hove town hall ahead of the meeting (Image: NQ)

The meeting began with a presentation of the plans, including proposed visuals of what the site could look like.

It was heard that the plans “significant benefits outweigh any drawbacks on the scheme” and the plans were recommended to be granted permission.

Five speakers shared their objections to the proposal, with three speakers sharing their support.

Objections raised included concerns over the building’s design, the wider masterplan, including housing, facilities offered and lose of the current building.

Chris Roche, a campaigner opposing the plans, spoke in front of the committee (Image: NQ)

However, those in support encouraged the committee to consider the benefits of the proposal.

Councillor Alan Robins, who spoke in support, said the current centre is “aging and increasingly expensive to maintain”, raising fears that the centre will have to close if something is not done to improve the site.

Committee members were given the opportunity to ask questions about each element of the proposal, including its design, sustainability, sports facilities and accessibility.

The committee also heard from the Conservation Advisory Group who raised concerns about the loss of heritage, describing the site as the “most significant civic building of our generation”.

Plans were submitted by Brighton and Hove City Council to demolish the current side and build its replacement earlier this year.

The council said the new facility will offer “more usable space”, including a larger gym, pool, teaching pool, sports hall, and the opening of a dedicated spin cycling studio, multi-use community room and café with sea views.

Visuals of what the swimming pool could look like

A key priority for the council has been to meet the needs of families and young children.

It said the new 6-court sports hall would provide opportunities for roller sports, inflatables, children’s birthday parties, 5-a-side football, 3×3 basketball and volleyball.

Proposals for the dedicated leisure water area are currently being developed, but the council said this will include features such as an interactive play area, a slide or small enclosed flume along with jets/fountains aimed at younger children.

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A movable floor in the teaching pool will also support shallow sessions for young children.

The council said it is developing plans alongside some of the country’s leading soft play specialists for the interactive soft play area, which would span over four levels.

Earlier this month, officials gave their backing to the plans and recommended the council planning committee be “minded to grant” planning permission for the scheme.

Protesters outside the King Alfred in March this year (Image: NQ)

However, the plans have seen opinions divided, having received over 600 objections from individuals and civic groups including the Brighton Society, Hove Civic Society, Keep and Retrofit the King Alfred Leisure Centre Campaign and the Dolphins Disabled Swimming Club.

Concerns include a reduction in the sports and leisure facilities that will be available, loss of family-orientated leisure and water play and the loss of a heritage building.

Objectors said that alternatives to the proposals should be considered and other designs considered including a retrofit.

The council has also received 49 representations in support of the plans saying that the fitness suite would be bigger, the new building more energy-efficient and that the project would support healthy lifestyles.

A petition with 1,917 signatures headed One Site One Plan was also been submitted.

This supports the proposals in principle but said that the site should be considered as one masterplan because the existing leisure centre location is expected to be sold for housing.

The council’s cabinet agreed to push ahead with the latest proposals last September, having approved the business case in July 2024.

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The initial budget of £47.4 million was increased to £65 million last September to recognise rising costs and inflation in the construction sector, the cost of including an undercroft car park as part of the scheme, improved facilities and an entrance plaza.

At the same time, the council said that it expected to borrow between £38.6 million and £47.7 million from the Public Works Loan Board to help fund the project.

The cost of repaying the debt over 50 years would be between £1.95 million and £2.4 million a year.

The sale of about 60 per cent of the site for housing is expected to raise between £17.3 million and £26.4 million.

A report to the council’s cabinet last year said that the higher estimate included an assumption that Homes England would help fund the goal of 40 per cent of any new homes being classed as “affordable”.

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