Plans submitted to demolish King Alfred on Hove seafront

The scheme will replace the ageing King Alfred Leisure Centre with a modern complex featuring sea views from its pools, gym and café.

Proposals include a significantly larger fitness suite, a leisure water area, a family entertainment zone and an underground car park.

Councillor Alan Robins, Cabinet member for Sports, Recreation and Libraries, said: “I think this is an exciting development for the city and will bring much needed new facilities for residents.”

The designs were shaped by community feedback and aim to create a sustainable and accessible destination for sports and wellbeing activities.

Landscaping will also better connect the site with the surrounding area.

The full gallery of artists' impressions of how the new leisure centre could look can be seen here: See pictures of how new King Alfred centre in Hove will look | The Argus

An artist's impression of how the new swimming pool could look (Image: Brighton and Hove City Council)

Residents and businesses are being urged to comment on the planning application before councillors decide.

“These final designs reflect the feedback we’ve heard from residents and the progress we’ve made in developing a scheme that is deliverable, sustainable and right for this seafront site,” Cllr Robins added.

Preparatory work for the project has already hit a slight snag after nesting sparrows were found on site.

Ecology specialists discovered the protected birds had begun nesting earlier than expected, likely due to warmer weather.

As a result, planned shrub removal has been paused until the young birds have fledged.

If the main project gets planning approval, construction is set to begin later this year, with the new centre expected to open in 2028.

The existing King Alfred facility will remain open for as long as possible until the replacement is ready.

The existing King Alfred Leisure Centre, which is expected to stay open until the replacement is ready. (Image: NQ)

The council says funding will come from government grants, borrowing and the sale of part of the site for housing.

Once open, the centre is expected to generate significant income to help offset its costs.

In January 2026, Historic England confirmed the King Alfred would not be added to the national list, clearing a key hurdle for demolition and redevelopment.

A campaign group called Keep and Retrofit the King Alfred Leisure Centre, with more than 1,000 Facebook members, has argued the site should be refurbished rather than replaced.

The project’s delivery partner is Alliance Leisure, appointed by Brighton and Hove City Council in January 2025 to lead the design-and-build process.

Earlier council papers said about 60% of the wider site would be sold for housing, with 40% of those homes classed as affordable and the land expected to raise about £26.4m.

The plans can be viewed on the council's planning portal using the reference BH2026/00490.