Council gives deadline on King Alfred development

Crest Nicholson has told Brighton & Hove City Council that in the absence of an agreed Brexit deal by Government, it cannot proceed to sign the development agreement for the King Alfred project within the current proposed timeframe. 
 
Reaffirming its commitment to enter into the development agreement and to deliver the project, Crest Nicholson said it could only fully do this once a Brexit deal has been confirmed by Government and a known exit strategy is in place. 
 
Speaking after the meeting of the council’s Policy, Resources and Growth Committee, Thursday, 24 January, where Crest Nicholson’s concerns about Brexit were discussed, Leader of the Council Dan Yates said that the council was left with no other choice but to give Crest Nicholson a final deadline. He said:
 
“Whilst we recognise and have sympathy with the uncertainty that Brexit brings and how challenging this is for developers who are making investment decisions, we have to see progress on the delivery of a new leisure centre complex. The council - and the people of Brighton & Hove - must have serious and absolute commitment to this scheme.”
 
The council’s Policy, Resources and Growth Committee unanimously voted to give Crest Nicholson a final deadline of 30 March to enter a development agreement but to still work towards completing the agreement by the end of January. If the original deadline is not met then the council will begin to explore other options alongside working with Crest to conclude an agreement by the end of March.

View the reports for the Policy, Resources & Growth Committee. King Alfred development update is agenda item 114