The developer behind the latest plans to rebuild the King Alfred Leisure Centre in Hove are asking the council to wait even longer before a formal agreement is signed over fears of a no-deal Brexit.
Crest Nicholson was due to finally sign an understanding with Brighton and Hove City Council by the end of the month – but this afternoon, a letter from the developer was published asking for another extension until it’s clearer under which terms the UK will exit the EU.
The letter says: ” As a business, we have been proceeding on the understanding that there would be an orderly Brexit deal agreed in January, with a view to the UK leaving the EU on 29 March with a known exit strategy in place.
“This would still create the conditions for the project to proceed and the agreements to be exchanged which we still hope and expect to be able to do within the next few weeks.
“I look forward to meeting the elected members myself shortly to confirm this position and answer any further questions they may have.
“The current deadlock is most unhelpful and does not provide the basis for major investment decisions in the interim.
“Accordingly, as soon as we have greater certainty over the nature and form of the Brexit arrangement which we all hope and expect will be achieved shortly, and assuming this does give reasonable certainty over the future trading relations with Europe, then we will enter into the development agreement and commit the team and resources required to promote the scheme, develop the design and seek planning in accordance with the conditions and programme.”
More follows.
In which case let the French (?) developers do it, this lot have wasted 2.5 yrs and now want even MORE time! The council should stick to their guns and tell them on yer bike if they don’t sign by end of this month.
The Standstill Letter in December gave Bouygues 4 weeks to challenge. They failed to bother – not interested.
Utter rubbish, more project fear! What the hell does leaving the EU got to do with rebuilding the King Alfred site. More bubble headed nonsense at work methinks.
“Through a catalogue of blunders, the administration has allowed Crest to land-bank the King Alfred site for free – and wasted something like £3 million in the process. Welcome to the continued chaos of the current administration – still only 4 months to the council election
Can you specify what these blunders consist of? And not implicate your fellow Tory members whose decisions got us here – alongside the Administration? Course not…
Every day now huge estimates for losses to be expected ftom a No Deal BREXIT are rolled out by big corporatons. Is this the end now for this attempt to redev KA?
It has been clear for almost three years – or more – that Brexit is a fantasy. Why is Crest leaving it until now to defer King Alfres yet again? The Council gave Crest an ultimate ultimate deadline of the end of this month. It is time to get a serious developer (or create something in-house, as was the case with the original King Alfred). Create it at cost, without the need for 20% profit.