The King Alfred has a special place in my heart.
It’s where I learned to swim, where I celebrated my sixth birthday, and where both my children currently attend swimming classes. The building holds so many memories for me: school friends' parties, the roller disco, swimming while pregnant with my first child, and the uplifting seafront sunsets that hit you when you leave on a summer evening.
But I, like so many residents, know that the best days of the current building are behind it. Which is why I am pleased that the leisure centre is now being reimagined for the future, with the latest designs now published and submitted for planning approval.
It’s been a long road getting us here and previous council administrations have tried and failed to get this project off the ground for over 20 years. When Brighton and Hove Labour took control of the council in May 2023 we were clear that we wanted to succeed this time around, and deliver a leisure centre that meets the needs of the community and which we can all be proud of. We have engaged extensively in drawing up these plans with several rounds of consultations over what was needed. And our 2024 consultation showed overwhelmingly that people wanted the new leisure centre built on the same site.
The positive response to our designs has been great to see. But as is often the way when major change is proposed, there are some who would prefer to stick to the status quo. Everyone is entitled to their view. But I’ve been concerned by some inaccurate commentary on the comparison between the current and future offer and range of activities that will be offered should the planning application prove successful.
So it’s worth recapping on the many ways that the new facility will materially improve the King Alfred’s offer: a much larger fitness suite (gym), with 140-150 stations, compared to around 30 stations in the current facility; a larger main pool (8 lanes compared to 6); a larger teaching pool; a leisure water facility, to help encourage water confidence for children; an extensive soft play attraction for younger children; a dedicated spin cycling studio; two general use studios; a multi-use community room; a 6-court sports hall, larger than either of the two current sports halls, with a layout that will allow more flexible use than the current sports halls and a much larger cafeteria with sea views.
In terms of the size of the new facility, comparing simple outlines of the new and old facilities can be misleading. The current facility is built largely across just a single storey. Furthermore, because the current facility has developed in a piecemeal way over many decades, the space utilisation is poor, with extensive areas of wasted space given over to corridors, stairways, and voids within the building. By contrast, the new facility is being delivered over three stories, with space utilisation maximised to avoid wasted space.
In terms of disability access, that has been a key priority shaping the project from inception. Throughout the life of the project we have engaged closely with groups and organisations representing disabled people, including Possability People, The Sussex Sight Loss Council, and the Dolphins Disabled Swimming Club. Specific activities have included: focus groups held with representatives of disabled organisations, disabled people’s sports clubs, and community groups; meetings on site with disabled sports clubs to understand their needs and a ‘simulation walk’ for members of the design team, arranged with the Sussex Sight Loss Council, to help the team understand the needs of visually impaired people. And some specific features will include: one Changing Places facility which is well located for potential users of the centre and also members of the public who may need that level of facility when out and about in the area and both pools will have gradual walk-in steps and a PoolPod to ensure those with mobility needs and disabilities will be able to have independent entry into both pools.
And one more thing it is important to be clear on, while the designs that have been submitted to the planning department represent the features that require planning permission, they do not tell the whole story. We are for example developing options for children’s leisure play – both wet and dry which will mean that the water fun I remember (and the roller discos!) can be experienced once again. So watch this space!
I’d encourage residents, businesses and community groups to view the planning application and share your comments as part of the formal planning process. All feedback submitted through the planning system will be considered before any decision is made. Once the planning consultation period closes the application will be discussed by the council’s planning committee. If approved, work will start on site later this year and the facility is expected to open in 2028. While the project progresses the existing King Alfred Leisure Centre will be kept open for as long as feasible.
Bella Sankey is the Labour Leader of Brighton and Hove City Council.
