A £65 million proposed new King Alfred swimming pool and leisure centre has been granted planning permission this afternoon (Wednesday 29 July).
The building on Hove seafront will occupy land that includes the current car park at the bottom of Hove Street and the area over the old ten-pin bowling alley.
A report to Brighton and Hove City Council’s Planning Committee said that the proposed features included
- a 25-metre eight-lane swimming pool and a learner pool both with a movable floor, a 75sqm splash pad for water play and 194 spectator seats
- a gym and fitness suite with 150 stations
- multi-purpose studios
- a six-court sports hall
- a children’s soft play area and a multi-purpose room for community use such as children’s parties
- a café and sunken gallery
- a public undercroft car park accessed from Hove Street South, with 122 spaces
- a temporary public car park
- a relocated/restored seafront shelter
Dozens of protesters held a demo outside Hove Town Hall before the Planning Committee meeting in the council chamber.
Members of the Planning Committee were told that the council had received more than 600 objections to the scheme plus a petition signed by almost 2,000 people – also against the proposal. The council received more than 50 comments in support.
Key objections included
- the demolition rather than the reuse of the existing building
- too little sports, leisure and community provision and children’s water play
- adverse effect on local heritage
- inadequate accessibility, inclusion and equality
- traffic, parking and infrastructure concerns
- insufficient consultation
After the scheme was approved, the council said: “Extensive community engagement from residents as well as sports, community and disability groups throughout the project has helped shape the proposals from the activities to circulation routes, signage, arrival points and room layouts.
“Engagement has continued during the planning process and refinements made as part of that include amendments to the north and west elevations.
“The new building is set to be constructed on part of the current site, allowing the existing King Alfred Leisure Centre to remain open while construction takes place.
“Once the new facility is complete and operational, the current building will be demolished.”
During the Planning Committee meeting, Labour councillor Alan Robins, the council’s cabinet member for sports, recreation and libraries, called for members’ support.
He said: “It can and will be built. Spades in the ground by January 2027. Toes in the water by autumn 2028.”
And the council’s head of place making, Sam Smith, said: “It is not a scheme that relies on unrealistic assumptions or extraordinary levels of risk. It has been carefully shaped around one simple principle: it must be deliverable.
“I am determined that the people of Brighton and Hove should not have to wait another generation for a modern leisure centre.”
The plans were approved by eight votes to one, with just Conservative councillor Carol Theobald voting against them.
Excellent, now l, get on with it. Common sense prevails
They can grant themselves as much permission as they like. The financials still don’t stack up and posterity will remember them as the councillors who voted for the next i360 disaster. Much like the next election will regard them.
Who cares, we will have rid of that disgusting building finally. The loudest thankfully yet again have been ignored. Just like vally gardens where they bleated on for years about how bad it was, guess what. Wasn’t that bad after all…
Benjamin will be happy!
I am, and I look forward to going swimming there. And I hope this is but one of many more facilitates across Brighton, because, as been articulated in the phantasmagoria of discussions, there are more opportunities for developing additional swimming centres. East, for example, has a big gap in provision.
😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 … Hope it’s not another i360 moment……
One hundred percent guaranteed. They have learned nada from the doughnut on a stick moneypit.
We can fill the new pool with the tears of the opponents of the plans!
The council has not given permission today to demolish the king alfred. The 1160 square metres of fitlab gym can stay open in situ.
Keeping the current KA open until the new one is ready is part of the plan.
You’ve not uncovered some sort of secret plan,
Council are trying to wriggle out of that condition as well if you read the small print and Cllr Robins has already watered it down to they’ll keep the existing King Alfred open “as long as possible”
Because at some point, the construction work will mean the existing building can no longer be used…🤦
They can grant themselves as much permission as they like. The financials still don’t stack up and posterity will remember them as the councillors who voted for the next i360 disaster. Much like the next election.
Thank heavens this has been approved. 25 years of endless nimbyism and pettifogging at an end.Some people simply want to say no to everything and would never be satisfied.
A decision they made in the face of one red flag after another as access, environmental issues, design, public benefit, refurbishment of existing and the severe space constraints of the new sports centre and heritage were all glossed over as if they were of no consequence. Plus of course they were not allowed to discuss the tower blocks, even though they were supposed to vote on the application with the wider masterplan in mind! The meeting was packed out with developers, architects and council officers with vested interests and must have cost a pretty penny to have them all there, especially the ones from up North.
Good, finally. Bye bye filthy concrete hell hole.