We at Karis feel disappointed the King Alfred development seems to have become a political campaign issue for the Conservative group in Brighton and Hove.

The Conservative prospective parliamentary candidate Mike Weatherly makes inaccurate and misleading claims (Letters, March 17).

I am pleased to respond with the facts: The planning department has recommended King Alfred for approval for a variety of legitimate and positive reasons. The key point is that the infrastructure supports 751 homes, the new city sports centre and the project as a whole.

The site is not being overdeveloped.

The proposals have been designed to maximise community space, with 70 per cent of the total site area dedicated to public use. The retail and market housing, which is funding the development, will take only 30 per cent.

174 car parking spaces are being provided for the sports centre, 124 more than the 50 Mike Weatherly claims, with a further 307 spaces for residents.

Claims the proposals will create wind funnels are also incorrect.

Wind and overshadowing mitigation form a core part of the design and definitive supporting reports demonstrate the scheme will create sheltered public spaces free for everyone to enjoy.

The Conservative parliamentary candidate also argues the buildings are good but "we don't want them here".

It is gratifying to know Mr Weatherly appreciates the merits of the design but we do not understand why he feels they are not deserved in Hove. Many local residents strongly support the design and want the benefits this development will bring.

Criticism of the other political parties is unjust given that four years of thought, design and evolution, with the whole city consulted and feeding into the design, has gone into this project.

The planning brief for the King Alfred/RNR site was widely consulted upon by Brighton and Hove City Council and agreed by all political parties before Karis was chosen to develop proposals.

The Labour, Green and Liberal Democrat parties have all used their influence to affect further changes and secure even more benefits for the city.

The majority of residents in Brighton and Hove welcome the opportunity of a world-class Frank Gehry development.

More than 3,000 letters of support have been sent to the council, outstripping the objections by five to one, and an independent, city-wide poll demonstrated that 63 per cent of those questioned support this amazing project, with only 21 per cent against.

Mr Weatherly is therefore wrong to claim only the Conservatives have been consistent in representing the views of residents.

To the people of Brighton and Hove, we say we have probably the world's greatest architect, together with the world's best sport architects, delivering a remarkable sports centre, 276 affordable homes, amenity space for everybody to enjoy, an artistic and architectural impact and a legacy which is all guaranteed for delivery by ING, one of the world's most respected financial institutions.

And all at no cost to the city.

Other benefits include employment, training, and job creation, economic regeneration, green and sustainability credentials, public art, and upgrading and improvement of local services and infrastructure.

We urge anyone interested to visit the council's website at www.brighton-hove.gov.uk and read the validated and definitive information provided.

Brighton and Hove is about to make one of the most important decisions in its history.

The city is already a wonderful place to live, work and enjoy.

We now have an opportunity to move forward and fulfil our potential by launching ourselves into the 21st century and becoming one of the great cities of the world.

We urge councillors on the planning committee to vote for the benefit of the city as a whole.

Josh Arghiros
joint managing director,
Karis Holdings