Plans to demolish a former bowling alley to make way for a new leisure centre in Hove have been submitted.
Brighton and Hove City Council is planning to build a new leisure centre next to the King Alfred Leisure Centre, in Kingsway, on land currently home to its car park and an underground bowling alley.
In September, cabinet members agreed to move forward to the technical design stage for the new £65 million project.
Last Thursday, demolition plans were submitted for the development site.
The 22-lane bowling alley was in operation from 1960 to 1989, and was then turned into a laser tag venue. It has been closed since 1999.
If approved, demolition would start next March and take 18 weeks.
The plans have been submitted by the council’s contractor Willmott Dixon and state that the proposals so far only apply to demolishing the bowling alley, not the construction of the new leisure centre or the demolition of the old one.
The process will include removing asbestos, a hazardous material, from the former bowling alley.
Campaign group Keep and Retrofit the King Alfred Leisure Centre has asked the council to stop all work on the planning application while its application to have the existing building listed is considered.
Since the planning application went live on the council’s website on Tuesday (9 December), campaigners have submitted five objections.
One anonymous objector, whose details were redacted by the council, said: “This space is being demolished with a substantial loss of amenity to residents and tourists.
“While the facilities have been closed for some time, the bowling alley, laser game and pool hall were all much loved and no equivalent facility is being developed.”
Another anonymous objector, whose details were also redacted, said: “This land belongs to all residents and the council are there to serve and not just make decisions without consulting us.”
The council expects to borrow between £38.6 million and £47.7 million from the Public Works Loan Board. The cost of repaying the debt over 50 years would be between £1.95 million and £2.4 million a year.
To see the planning application or to comment, search for BH2025/02951 on the council’s website.
‘The council expects to borrow between £38.6 million and £47.7 million from the Public Works Loan Board. The cost of repaying the debt over 50 years would be between £1.95 million and £2.4 million a year.’
This is an insane amount of debt for a council already £32m in debt owing to the i360 to take on, a council which has already threatened bankruptcy numerous times.
The new leisure centre certainly won’t last 50 years until the new debt is paid off. They don’t make them like they used to. Greener and cheaper to restore the existing leisure centre. It is also far bigger to serve the people of Brighton and Hove.
Could the bowling Alley not be converted to affordable housing or to house migrants instead?
It’s underground so no.
Perhaps it could accommodate a skating rink or padel courts?
The bowling alley did not close in 1989. It was the late 90’s when the one at the marina opened.
Is there a risk that the council demolishes the King Alfred and then announces they can’t afford to build the replacement leisure centre and they need to sell the whole site off for flats? Maybe they will claim we have the new Withdean swimming pool instead so we don’t need the King Alfred? I heard on Radio Sussex this morning that they are doing similar with the city Libraries, claiming we have plenty per resident compared to other cities so don’t need the ones they are closing because we can use the others.
We need council reassurance on this point if they promised to build the new leisure centre first but are now trying to start demolition works on the King Alfred, as this flies in the face of their previous promise. We also know what a parlous financial situation this council is facing, which they could easily use as an excuse, particularly now inflation has gone through the roof.
I would not be surprised.. I hope that doesn’t happen and we have our leisure centre rebuilt fit for purpose on the seafront keeping sports available to everyone all along the seafront.. I mean (sorry Withdean you are almost out of Brighton) nobody goes to Withdean unless you have to or you live there … This land should never be sold off for private flats but i can imagine there are many in the council who are licking their lips at the thought it… All that council tax and revenue for energy, shops, petrol and everything people pay money for… Imagine the backhanders!!
Tracy the plan is to build the new centre on a site next to the existing KA – which is why they need to demolish what was once the bowling alley etc to allow that to happen. The existing KA will remain open until the new one is completed and open
Once the new centre has been built then the old KA will be demolished.
In what universe would anyone claim the KA should be a listed building?
As for loss of amenities, the bowling alley was “lost” in 1989. We need to move on not lament the loss of something that hasn’t been there for 30+ years.
100% agree Tim. Its a half derelict site, no where near the level it should be for local amenities. The sooner we can get on with a nice NEW seafront building, we can be proud of, the better!
Maybe once they have built the new pool on the old bowling alley they can turn the old swimming pool area into a ice rink and place other leisure activity in the building at the front.
Who Knows? Well you can easily find out by analysing the existing King Alfred facilities v the proposed plans for a sub-optimal hub. Then you will see for yourself that the council will be reducing leisure facilities and capacity with the demolition of the King Alfred and plunging this city into £100m worth of debt repayable over a 50 year period. No ice rink intended either, so dream on.
What is this obsession with an ice rink?
There hasn’t been one in Brighton for decades.
The old KA will be demoliched once the new one has been built.