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King Alfred work set to begin in a year
9:49am Wednesday 20th February 2008
Building work on the controversial King Alfred project is predicted to start next February.
A development agreement between Karis ING and Brighton and Hove City Council has been signed and 81 planning conditions must now be met before November.
Once the final designs have also been agreed, the council is expected to hand over the land next February.
The news has emerged as the Conservative party, which now dominates the council, has defended its handling of the scheme it has bitterly opposed.
The £290 million development has been designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry.
It will feature 751 homes in 11 buildings, including two towers of up to 98 metres in height. There will be a £49 million sports centre, small shops, a police office, a GPs' surgery, cafes, restaurants and public spaces.
Southern Housing Group will manage the 270 affordable homes.
A spokeswoman for Karis said the scheme had not been altered since it was agreed by Brighton and Hove City Council but that detailed design work was now being carried out.
She said: "We are aiming to commence work on site in February 2009.
However, given the scale and complexity of the project, there is still a great deal of work to be carried out.
"This includes taking the detailed design to the next level and the appointment of the main contractor.
"The project remains a joint venture partnership between Karis and ING Real Estate. There is a great deal of interest in the scheme and we aim to release apartments for sale." The Conservative administration, which opposed the scheme, has faced flack for not dumping the project after the party gained power last May.
Following a rejected Freedom of Information request, the Tories have also been criticised for not releasing an angry letter penned by planning staff.
Council leader Brian Oxley said his party has been consistently against the development and had played no part in deciding whether to release the correspondence.
The Regency Society has been fighting for the letter to be put into the public domain. But the council claims the note could affect public confidence in the planning process.
Alan McCarthy, the council's chief executive, said: "I can confirm that the Conservative members of the council consistently opposed the King Alfred scheme during its development and voted against the planning application when it was determined in March 2007.
"The issues of the release of emails have been referred to the national Information Commissioner."
What do you think of the plans for the development?
Your Say YourArgus
lou, hove says...
11:31am Wed 20 Feb 08
me, here says...
11:35am Wed 20 Feb 08
Stroller, Hove says...
11:36am Wed 20 Feb 08
Steve, Brighton says...
11:48am Wed 20 Feb 08
Spanner, in the works says...
11:51am Wed 20 Feb 08
tim, BRIGHTON says...
12:04pm Wed 20 Feb 08
Bandstand restoration by 2010 ?
Richard, Burgess hill/Brighton says...
12:17pm Wed 20 Feb 08
We all know who was behind the West Pier arsonist, Hove says...
12:20pm Wed 20 Feb 08
Stroller wrote:So tired of your cr@p postings Stroller, go lock yourself up Paul and save us all from your Labour Rot. Go wash yer boyfriends a$$.
The real scandal is that the Tories were not honest enough to say that they were really supporting it all along. People now realise this. Much better use could have been made of the site.
KC (& the sunshine band), St Aubyns says...
12:27pm Wed 20 Feb 08
Stu, Hove says...
12:29pm Wed 20 Feb 08
scouse wrote:And what do you think this monstrosity is going to look like in 30 years time? It may look great now (as no doubt the monstrosities of the 60s and 70s did at the time) but I can't wait to see the salt etched rusty stainless steel covering this monstrosity in 2040 so we all us NIMBY's can say "We told you so".
The sooner this is built the better, about time we had a well designed building development in Hove, can't understand what all the local nimbys are whinging about, theres plenty of 60's and 70's monstrositys in and around the area far worse, just look at grand avenue, just across the road the corner of hove street ( NOT VICEROY THE OTHER SIDE ), bottom of albany villas, i rest my case
grumpy, hove says...
1:05pm Wed 20 Feb 08
Do these flats even have balconies? Can't tell from the drawings, + couldn't tell from the model at the town hall either. Wouldn't fancy being imprisoned up there without a balcony.
Mark, Hove says...
1:17pm Wed 20 Feb 08
This is a huge development that is going to take over the whole area for the duration of construction and impose on the whole area once complete! Goodbye to Hove as we know it. Is it too late to stop this thing?
Dave, Brighton says...
1:21pm Wed 20 Feb 08
Eco Man, Kemp Town says...
1:28pm Wed 20 Feb 08
Dave wrote:They are built for wielding a mighty sledgehammer apiece
There's only one thing for it..call Fiona and Sarah, they'll know what to do!
ray ellerton, portslade says...
5:43pm Wed 20 Feb 08
Mike, Hove says...
5:46pm Wed 20 Feb 08
does Brian Oxley have
an alternative plan that does not involve rate payers wasting more money on this
shambles . Hope the planning officers who resigned in disgust when this scheme was forced through by the council will finally dish the dirt on McCarthy and co .
Nick, Hove says...
5:59pm Wed 20 Feb 08
scouse wrote:You are right about Grand avenue. I was looking at a book in Hove library about the history of Hove and it showed pictures of the old Grand avenue, (large Victorian, Edwardian houses down both sides) i was surprised to see that this was a Victorian, Edwardian masterpiece "Grand Avenue" before the developers of the 1960s got their hands on it. It has been sited as one of the main reasons that the councilors should have a long hard think before they allow "new" ideas to get off the drawing board, in this town. Alas we have to many Simon Fanshawes in the positions of power in Brighton and Hove council now so this will be a regular theme in this "city" in the coming years.
The sooner this is built the better, about time we had a well designed building development in Hove, can't understand what all the local nimbys are whinging about, theres plenty of 60's and 70's monstrositys in and around the area far worse, just look at grand avenue, just across the road the corner of hove street ( NOT VICEROY THE OTHER SIDE ), bottom of albany villas, i rest my case
Flat Foot Soozie, Brunswick Square says...
6:48pm Wed 20 Feb 08
Graeme, Hove says...
8:06pm Wed 20 Feb 08
bruce, brighton says...
9:02pm Wed 20 Feb 08
Nick wrote:You are obviously not from Brighton. I am born and bread and i can not remember any houses on both sides of grand avenue. I say if it wasn't for the likes of simon fanshawe, like he has said. "We would still be a rundown seaside resort". I left school in the thatcher years and am very thankful that we have a true native brightonian in mr fanshawe who cares for our future as a major City.
scouse wrote: The sooner this is built the better, about time we had a well designed building development in Hove, can't understand what all the local nimbys are whinging about, theres plenty of 60's and 70's monstrositys in and around the area far worse, just look at grand avenue, just across the road the corner of hove street ( NOT VICEROY THE OTHER SIDE ), bottom of albany villas, i rest my caseYou are right about Grand avenue. I was looking at a book in Hove library about the history of Hove and it showed pictures of the old Grand avenue, (large Victorian, Edwardian houses down both sides) i was surprised to see that this was a Victorian, Edwardian masterpiece "Grand Avenue" before the developers of the 1960s got their hands on it. It has been sited as one of the main reasons that the councilors should have a long hard think before they allow "new" ideas to get off the drawing board, in this town. Alas we have to many Simon Fanshawes in the positions of power in Brighton and Hove council now so this will be a regular theme in this "city" in the coming years.
Stroller, Hove says...
8:54am Thu 21 Feb 08
Graeme wrote:Quick! Fetch the strait-jacket!
This is an exciting, iconic building - the sooner it is built the better. It is as zany as the Royal Pavilion, as bold as Brunswick Terrace, as beautiful as the West Pier. It will bring more prosperity to Hove, provide much needed housing, replace a worn out and inadequate pool & leisure centre with a facility we can all be proud off. I look forward to showing this stunning building to all my friends. Shame it is not this month the building starts.
Goodness knows why his friends should want to be "shown" blocks of flats
Martin Boyask, new church road says...
9:00am Thu 21 Feb 08
Suits the local architecture like an elephant in a ballet skirt.
700 homes? As if the seafront isn't congested enough already! If the extra housing is essential, re-style it and put it at the back of town somewhere
The real way this got approved will never see the light of day.
Me, Hove says...
2:50pm Thu 21 Feb 08
Stroller wrote:Quality.
Graeme wrote: This is an exciting, iconic building - the sooner it is built the better. It is as zany as the Royal Pavilion, as bold as Brunswick Terrace, as beautiful as the West Pier. It will bring more prosperity to Hove, provide much needed housing, replace a worn out and inadequate pool & leisure centre with a facility we can all be proud off. I look forward to showing this stunning building to all my friends. Shame it is not this month the building starts.Quick! Fetch the strait-jacket! Goodness knows why his friends should want to be "shown" blocks of flats
concerned of hove, hove says...
8:28pm Thu 21 Feb 08
benpoetscorner, says...
10:06am Fri 7 Mar 08
Richard wrote:Are you serious? The King Alfred at the moment is one of the worst designed buildings I have ever seen, and the surrounding area is so rn down it'll be a blessed relief to have an exciting, world recognised building in it's place.
I used to love the flumes at the king alfred. Nice little swimming pool that, and very cheap and cheerful. Cheetahs gym is also very good. Shame it's going to be replaced by a monstrosity of a building. Still, it's not a while now is it.
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scouse, shoreham says...
11:28am Wed 20 Feb 08