VIDEO: £5m spa vision unveiled for Brighton seafront

10:10am Friday 1st March 2013 in News By John Keenan, business editor

An artist's impression of the proposed spa An artist's impression of the proposed spa

A leisure group has unveiled its proposals for a £5 million luxury spa on the busiest stretch of Brighton’s seafront.

Karma Royal Group wants to move Volk’s Railway to make way for the development.

The route of the railway was altered in 2006 to make room for the Yellowave Beach and cafe.

Now Karma Royal plans to move it again, closer to its original 1883 route.

The plan will be unveiled on Saturday, March 2 at the Brighton Fishing Quarter Gallery in Kings Road.

The proposals will be on show from 11am to 4pm.

The exhibition will provide details of the new attraction including a physical model, a 3D animation and information-posters.

Karma Royal was chosen by the council as its preferred developer of the Peter Pan site, off Madeira Drive.

'Revitalise Madeira Drive'

A council report said the scheme would create 300 jobs and inject £10 million a year into the local economy.

Karma Royal is based in Australia and describes its properties as “uber-upmarket, five-star offerings”. The owner of Karma Royal is John Spence.

Revitalise According to a Financial Times profile, Mr Spence started his first business venture when he was 12.

He told the newspaper he bought bags of wine gums, rewrapped them and sold them at a 120 per cent profit.

A spokesman for Karma Royal said: “Brighton Bathing Pavilions will help revitalise this end of Madeira Drive with a new purpose built attraction all year round.

“The proposal is designed for longevity, not only in use but also in substance.”

Geoffrey Bowden, the chair of the council’s economic development and culture committee said: “The possibility of moving the railway as part of the development of a spa was part of a presentation made to the council by Karma Royal Group last year.

“However, as with the development itself it must first gain planning consent and should a realignment of the Volk’s railway track be included in a successful application, I expect it will be subject to conditions as happened with Yellowave.”

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Comments(17)

bug eye says...
10:23am Fri 1 Mar 13

Now we are talking some proper upmarket 21st century development for adults. At last a vision and not some tacky plastic playground. This will be good for the upmarket hen weekend and special occassions tourists, not just the druggies and kiss me quick brigade. Bring it on.

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mustaphaLeeko says...
10:47am Fri 1 Mar 13

It would create 300 jobs?

How? I can't see that many people working in a small place like that, maybe 30 or 40 more like, unless they are talking of temporary construction jobs!

The entrance way on the video "Brighton Baths" makes it seem a little tacky in my view, and they would have to make it a little more enclosed to stop dog walking chavs and druggies from wandering in, as well as the loutish London brigade if it's supposed to be a 5 star Spa resort lol!

Apart from that, why not, go for it, so long as it's not cheap and tacky as that end of the seafront really could become something great with the right investment strategy, i.e. not cheap and tacky!

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Indigatio says...
11:03am Fri 1 Mar 13

Looks nice. Would like to see the plans.
One thought though. What about the Brighton Speed Trials? Would this development mean that it wouldn't be held again?

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paul76 says...
11:08am Fri 1 Mar 13

Yet again another development that will bring in more traffic. The greens must be loving this. More cars going against their hate of the car.

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Saltdean Resident says...
11:22am Fri 1 Mar 13

Some people in this city are so negative about any bit of change. Actually some people are just negative bores full stop...blah...blah..
..blah. Had enough of reading Argus comments and will leave you all to wallow in it, its just too depressing.

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nosolution says...
11:23am Fri 1 Mar 13

Very poor idea in my opinion,a spa is not really high end market,just full of posers and wanabee swingers.Surely there are better plans that truely inject money locally.Attractions are what sets the beach apart,the clue is in the name.Something that will draw people in.A spa won't...

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nosolution says...
11:29am Fri 1 Mar 13

Also why can't the Volks railway be extended to Hove..

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Brilliantbrighton says...
11:48am Fri 1 Mar 13

Moving a the Volks to secure development in a major foot fall area is great idea. Bemoaning more traffic with development is a little clumsy as development inevitably leads to traffic, footfall and spending... surely that's the point? Plus the beauty of this location is that is heavily pedestrianised, with a railway to reach the site, in prime brownfield between two developed sites on the seafront. It may also edge development of Black Rock, as all of this stretch has been an eye sore for years.

Brighton needs investment, this complements the services that Brighton offers and the sea front needs it.

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Mel Shock says...
12:06pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Could be good...........that area does need looking at same as Blackrock.
However do they really think that outdoor hot tubs next to what looks like a kids waterslide play area would be relaxing ??
But hey this is just an artists impression, so nothing concrete yet guys.

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High Wire says...
4:23pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Isn't this the same story that appeared in The Argus on 14th June 2012 (and also written by John Keenan)?

9 months have passed and a 'fully funded project' which the 'council was proposing to give landlord's consent' is still at planning stage....?

Come on guys - my bits need waxing before summer - shake a leg and get this under way...

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monkeymoo says...
4:38am Sat 2 Mar 13

Not sure if this will 'draw in the crowds' and therefore generate any extra income for Brighton as a hole.
More likely a place that people will go to, when they are in the city anyway.

Still...Better than all the hotels, supermarkets, and flat conversions that seem to being built all the time.

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monkeymoo says...
4:39am Sat 2 Mar 13

* meant 'WHOLE' not hole...

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Morpheus says...
10:07am Sat 2 Mar 13

Perfect for the politicians to get up to some hanky-panky during their conferences!

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Hovite says...
2:20pm Sat 2 Mar 13

monkeymoo wrote:
* meant 'WHOLE' not hole...
You were right the first time, it is a hole

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whereisthe...? says...
10:33pm Sat 2 Mar 13

So they want to move THE OLDEST RAILWAY IN THE WORLD so some over-privileged plastic faced WAGS and TORY morons can get a fake tan?


I don't think so.

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RottingdeanRant says...
8:43am Sun 3 Mar 13

whereisthe...? wrote:
So they want to move THE OLDEST RAILWAY IN THE WORLD so some over-privileged plastic faced WAGS and TORY morons can get a fake tan?


I don't think so.
If you read the article Volk’s was moved in 2006 and this evidently plans to move it ‘closer’ to its original site.

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Somethingsarejustwrong says...
11:59am Sun 3 Mar 13

whereisthe...? wrote:
So they want to move THE OLDEST RAILWAY IN THE WORLD so some over-privileged plastic faced WAGS and TORY morons can get a fake tan?


I don't think so.
Its probably fair to say that no one gives a toss about what you think.

Bring it on, all change is good change!l

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