THE long-awaited vision for the new King Alfred site has been labelled “solid and dependable” – amid a wave of criticism from residents.

They finally saw the designs for the first time yesterday, 12 days after councillors revealed the preferred bidder to transform the 1930s leisure centre site on Hove seafront.

The decision was made in a controversial, behind-closed-doors process.

Argus readers have been particularly harsh in their criticism of The Starr Trust and Crest Nicholson scheme, labelling the newly released designs as “spectacularly hideous”, “unbelievably dull” and “ugly”.

Comparisons for the designs of the new £40 million leisure centre and 560 apartments ranged from "the worst of 1960s architecture” to “Costa Brava”, “Croydon by Sea” and a “retro Butlins”.

Industry experts have been more forgiving, although they admitted the new designs were unlikely to win The Stirling Prize industry award.

The lead architects on the scheme are London-based Haworth Tompkins, who won the Stirling Prize in 2014 for Liverpool’s Everyman theatre and who were also selected for a home-building scheme in the London Olympic Park.

Rory Olcayto, editor of the Architects’ Journal, said: “This is solid, dependable architecture by a solid, dependable architect.

“Haworth Tompkins won the Stirling Prize in 2014 and while it’s not going to repeat that success here in Brighton, this building will do a job – and it will do it well.

“In truth, the previous scheme by Frank Gehry, while not everyone’s cup of tea, was more Brighton than this scheme.

“But it’s time to move on, the crumpled tower looks like a pre-crash relic today.”

With an extensive consultation launching this summer and a planning application to be submitted early next year, campaigners hope significant changes to the “indicative designs” can be made.

Lewes-based LA Architects will design the sports centre, having previous experience designing Glass Mill Loampit Vale Leisure Centre in Lewisham, the Clapham One Leisure Centre and Steyning Leisure and Sports Centre.

As well as seeing four new images of the development, residents can take a virtual tour through the new sporting facilities.

These will include a 25-metre competition pool, teaching and junior pool, sports hall, gym, spinning room, three indoor bowl rinks, sauna, café, crèche, children’s soft play room and martial arts training area.

Valerie Paynter, of SaveHove, said the images were only a starting point in the process.

She said: “The concept design for the Frank Gehry towers could not have been more different to what eventually got planning consent.

“I would expect it to change considerably over the next 12 months. This will change hugely and it must change.

“We are not looking at landmark architecture that’s for sure. I would have wanted something more lyrical but I am pleased about the amount of public realm.”

Councillor Robert Nemeth, Conservative member of the King Alfred project board, said: “Having been involved with this project from day one, it is something of a momentous occasion for me that I am part of a team making this announcement now.

“I know that Rob Starr and Crest are eager to get building so I very much hope that the scheme gets the backing of the public during the planning process.”

Councillor Warren Morgan, chair of the council’s policy and resources committee and council leader, said: “I’m pleased that we can now show residents the initial designs of what will be a high-quality but deliverable leisure centre on the King Alfred site.

“It’s important we consult with local residents however it is vital that we move forward with the much-needed and unavoidable replacement of the ninety-year old facility, one that costs huge sums to keep running.”

AFTER 15 YEARS OF WAITING, THE BACKLASH WAS ALMOST INSTANT

The Argus:

IT HAD the biggest of build-ups. But with anticipation comes great expectation.

When the first designs of the new King Alfred development were released yesterday, 12 days after the preferred bidder was chosen and more than three years after the selection process began, the criticism arrived almost instantly.

Residents understandably expected a lot from a scheme more than 15 years in the planning, which included the collapse of the Frank Gehry designs.

And the council’s secretive approach to the selection process has only ratcheted up the nervous anticipation as each major stage passed by without residents knowing what kind of future was being selected.

Unlike the previous process in the 2000s, residents saw three alternative visions before the Frank Gehry “wonky towers” were selected.

The Argus:

This time around nothing has been publicly revealed about the individual bids, other than the developers behind them.

The council argued secrecy was necessary in the “competitive dialogue” procurement process and was a price worth paying to ensure value for money for the taxpayers.

Bidding companies privately shared detailed financial information with a project board of three cross-party councillors, specialist council officers and external experts because.

The council claimed this was because making details of the bids public would be unlawful under public procurement regulations and undermine competition as bidders would gain advantage from seeing the competing proposals.

But this sealed envelope approach has left huge scepticism over the selection process, with the first look at the designs generating outspoken criticism.

A direct comparison with the losing bid may have allowed residents to find greater favour in the winning bid but now they will just imagine what might have been.

The council wanted to avoid a beauty contest where bidders were based purely on aesthetics.

Its own decision-making valued the financial and deliverability of the scheme as its key considerations during the selection process.

But inevitably for any major public building, let alone one in such a prime seafront location, design was always going to be the major concern.

Rather than a beauty contest, residents have been left with an awkward blind date, totally unaware of what to expect.

The real challenge now will be to see how much influence the “extensive” public consultation this summer will influence the final design.

The facilities within the leisure centre are already decided and there is no 50-metre Olympic-sized pool. The height of housing blocks have been determined by economics and the precedent set for previous consent for up to 25 storeys.

So what is left for residents and other consultees to shape?

Winning bidder Rob Starr has spoken about his desire to create a community centre – now is the time for the community's needs to be involved.