Background

The King Alfred site covers 4.2 acres on Hove seafront. The site houses the City's main indoor sports and swimming centre, originally built in the 1930s but now very dilapidated and costly to maintain. The remainder of the site, part of which is currently used as a car park, has lain semi derelict and unused for decades.

Six years ago plans to refurbish the swimming pool and relocate the dry sports facilities to create a multiplex cinema, nightclub and restaurants were rejected. The resulting scrutiny by Brighton & Hove City Council and citywide consultation highlighted the need and reinforced the public's demand for high quality sports and swimming facilities to be retained on the site.

With no likelihood of Lottery or other public funding to meet the cost of a new sports centre, the Council sought to maximise the potential of this brown-field site by identifying part of the site for housing. In a citywide consultation 90% of people who responded supported a complete redevelopment of the site to include new sports and swimming facilities and an enabling housing development.

Planning policies designating the King Alfred site for leisure and housing, including affordable homes, have now been endorsed at a Public Inquiry.

The Council, in consultation with residents, drew up a detailed brief for the site and sought expressions of interest from the private sector. Karis Holdings was selected as the preferred developer in July 2003 following a high profile architectural competition.