Hundreds back bid to build swimming pool on Brighton beach

More than 270 people have sent in their support for a revised proposal to build a seafront swimming pool known as Sea Lanes.

The 25-metre pool with shops and cafés would be four metres further up the beach than in the original plans with two rather than three storeys.

The proposed pool, next to Yellowave in Madeira Drive, can have a maximum of 36 swimmers using it at any one time, according to a report going before Brighton and Hove City Council Planning Committee on Wednesday 3 April.

Planning officers have recommended approving the application, as they did when the original scheme went before the committee in December.

Instead of bright colours, the modular buildings would be covered with black rubber, cedar-style weatherboard and white steel, with green roofs.

It is also lower, with no three-storey elements, and the proposed pitched roofs are described as “softening” the development.

The pool would be given premission for five years.

One comment of support on the council website said: “As a council that encourage a healthy image for our city it goes without saying that this project brings immense value and kudos.

“It is in an area that is undeveloped and largely unused and will benefit that end.

“It is a perfect usage of the space and would be a tragedy to not be approved at this stage.”

Another anonymous commenter said: “For far too long the Peter Pan area of the seafront has been poorly utilised.

“The children’s play area was a great improvement from the amusement arcade that occupied for the site for many years.

“However, nothing further has been done with a prime leisure site on Brighton seafront.”

Historic England is still opposed to the scheme but described it as less harmful than the previous design.

The organisation said: “While we welcome the change in palette, the scale and height of the development in our view it remains harmful.

“A less harmful approach would see single-storey development that sits below the canopy of Madeira Terrace, maintaining the distinctive openness of this part of the seafront and the uninterrupted views of the sea and Palace Pier from all levels.”

The Eastcliffe Society is also against the pool scheme and sent its objection through the Conservation Advisory Group.

It said: “Although a key design improvement are the glass balustrades and the swimming pool being moved up the beach towards the main proposal area.

“The design of the scheme has no connection with marine architecture that would be expected along Madeira Drive.

“It does not complement the historic arches opposite.”

The application goes before the Planning Committee which is due to meet in public at Hove Town Hall from 2pm on Wednesday 3 April.