Two sites have been earmarked for the city’s new “flagship” leisure centre.

Brighton and Hove City Council has whittled down 20 potential locations for the King Alfred’s “state of the art” replacement since the hunt for a location began in 2022.

Officers have now confirmed they are looking at building the facility on the current King Alfred site in Kingsway, Hove, or on land to the south of West Hove Sainsbury’s car park at the junction of Old Shoreham Road and the A293.

Council leader Bella Sankey said: “We are delighted that with support from residents, sports club members, centre users and community groups we can now share our final site options for a new leisure centre in the west of the city.

“The next steps are really important ones. We want as many people as possible to engage with this process and to give their views, thoughts and reflections on the proposed sites so that we can take this into account when making the final decision on the location of our new leisure centre.

The Argus: Two locations for the new leisure centre are being consideredTwo locations for the new leisure centre are being considered (Image: The Argus)

“This is an exciting new chapter for the city and we are all looking forward to seeing the new leisure centre come to fruition.”

Plans for both sites include a 25-metre competition swimming pool, various smaller pools, a sports hall, extensive health and fitness facilities and a café.

The city council has published a document highlighting the “opportunities and challenges” building at both sites will pose.

It says there are significantly greater challenges to building on the current King Alfred site, most notably that the new leisure centre would "not meet the specification required by the city council’s sports facilities investment plan". 

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The Old Shoreham Road site also has some disadvantages as the cricket pitch on the land would have to be relocated to make way for the new centre.

People can give their views at an online consultation on the city council’s website or attend meetings on January 16 at the King Alfred leisure centre; January 17 at St Richard’s Community Centre in Egmont Road, Hangleton; the same day at Portslade Library; at Hove Library on January 24.

Building work is due to begin in 2025.