King Alfred development - What the residents think

Published: September 8, 2005

Frank Gehry's plans for a seafront leisure centre and flats complex have divided the city of Brighton and Hove. While most people support the idea of a new sports centre, others are concerned about the hundreds of flats which would be built alongside it. Andy Tate reports from the front line of the dispute.

There has been a strong and vocal opposition to plans for a £220 million seafront leisure and flats complex.

Posters against the scheme are on display in people's windows the length and breadth of Hove.

So it was surprising to find, in a poll of people on the streets in September 2005, that a slim majority of those questioned were in favour of the plans.

The straw poll of 30 people conducted by The Argus found 57 per cent said they backed a scheme by developer Karis to provide the community with a £48 million leisure centre free of charge in exchange for the profit from the sale of hundreds of flats.

The poll, conducted in George Street, Hove, and Churchill Square, Brighton, found 17 people in support, 12 against and one undecided - demonstrating the extent to which the project has divided the community.

Supporters believe agreeing to the construction of 754 flats, of which 37 per cent are low-cost, is a price worth paying for a badly-needed sports facility. They argue the development would address the city's need for extra accommodation.

Opponents often admit the sports centre would make an important and attractive addition to the seafront but argue the scale of the development and number of flats is too large.

Members of Brighton and Hove City Council's policy and resources committee are due to vote as land owner's of the Kingsway site on whether to allow the development to proceed to planning committee. They will have to decide whether the latest stage of the development complies with the design briefs.

The council's major projects team has already indicated it considers the scheme viable and largely compliant.

There is less than a week to go before Monday's crucial meeting.

Martin Perry, chief executive of Brighton and Hove Albion Football Club, said yesterday: “I want to see the sports facilities in this city brought up to Olympic standards and here is an opportunity we should grasp with open arms."

Mr Perry praised developer Karis for pledging to invest thousands of pounds in training young people in construction skills to work on the project.

But Ken Fines, of campaign group Hova, said: “This scheme would be totally destructive of the refined image of Hove. The density of the development is something that would not have been regarded as acceptable in the heyday of high rise in the Sixties and Seventies. We haven't got the infrastructure."

Doreen Hyland, 78, Bristol Estate, Brighton.
"I don't like the idea of a big development on the front. It would spoil the front and I don't want any tall buildings built there."

Rikul Patel

Tracey Brockbank, 40, administrator, Hangleton, Hove.
"They are trying to do a little bit too much with one site. Hove needs a leisure facility for youngsters But this would be more flats than this area needs."

David Williams, 54, charity worker, Osborne Villas, Hove.
"We could do with a new leisure centre but this is massive and too much for the area. It's going to block out the light."

Rob Paraman, 43, technician, Portland Road, Hove.
"People who live near the sea would be absolutely devastated by these plans because their views would be destroyed but it's great to have buildings by great architects."

Rikul Patel, 16, student, Tamworth Road, Hove.
"The King Alfred centre is fine as it is. We already have enough flats."

Lisa Wainwright, 36, student, Portslade.
"The King Alfred could do with a revamp but the flats should be taken out and it should be more of a leisure thing."

Gail Wainwright, 54, care assistant, Pembroke Avenue, Hove.
"The children need activities but if they are going to build flats they should all be social housing and not private flats."

Lisa Wainwright

Kate Rimer, 31, band manager, Goldstone Lane, Hove.
"It would be good to have a new leisure centre but there are too many flats and they would destroy that part of the seafront."

Corinne Dowling, 17, student, Hollingdean, Brighton.
"A new leisure centre is a good idea but there's a lot of housing there already and it would look very overcrowded."

Dennis Turner, 59, carpenter, Clarendon Road, Hove.
"It shouldn't be that big. It would take away the open space on the seafront."

John Milson, 63, electrician, Waldegrave Road, Brighton.
"I would rather they didn't build the flats."

Elaine Norman-Davis, 43, company director from Shoreham.
"It will be fantastic for the city to have an architect of Frank Gehry's stature design a new leisure and residential complex."

Tim Hewitt

Robert McWilliam, 50, bus driver, Godwin Road, Hove.
"The current one is quite an ugly building and we could do with modern facilities. It's got to be good for the town."

Sam Headington, 23, gym worker, Hangleton, Hove.
"It's going to make the pool area better and cleaner than the current one. I like the roof and the flats don't bother me."

Tim Hewett, 24, nurse, Belfast Street, Hove.
"I go swimming at the King Alfred and it could do with some more facilities. It's a bit grim down there and this is a good design."

Sidney Posner, retired, Grand Avenue, Hove.
"We need more facilities and I would like to see the seafront developed in that area. I'm happy with lots of flats as long as they fit into the landscape."

Muriel Bailey, 69, retired, Old Shoreham Road, Hove.
"It's great. We need something modern and uplifting and new and exciting. I'm not content with the flats but if it's the only way they can build the leisure centre then we should go for it."

Muriel Bailey

Stewart Weir, 43, photographer, Eaton Road, Hove.
"It would be absolutely brilliant and would bring tourism here and put Hove on the map. The flats wouldn't damage the area and we need more low-cost housing."

Britney Martin, 17, student, Tisbury Road, Hove.
"It's brilliant and will improve the look of the beach. At the moment it's a bit run down and it needs to be brightened up. I like tall buildings because it gives the area a city feel."

Anne-Marie Denton, 30, hairdresser, The Drive, Hove.
"I stopped going to the King Alfred because it's disgusting. It definitely needs changing and if there's room for the flats you have to go with the flow."

Geoff Crabb, 22, DJ, Trafalgar Street, Brighton.
"The whole area looks like a dump at the moment so whatever you do is going to make it better, apart from turning it into an industrial estate."