THE multi-million plan for the King Alfred leisure centre has officially been abandoned.

The £400 million proposals for the city council-owned land on Hove seafront would have included a new £50 million sports facility to replace the current leisure centre.

The Starr Trust, based in Brighton, was awarded the procurement with co-developer Crest Nicholson in January 2016.

But Crest pulled out in August amid concerns about Brexit.

Today, councillors voted to end the procurement following legal advice from council officials.

At a policy and resources meeting, held this afternoon, councillors voted to end the procurement of the project.

Rob Starr, from the Starr Trust, argued he had found a “bigger” partner in Legal and General, which has agreed to take Crest’s place.

But the council said it would be “unlawful” to award a contract to any party other than Crest.