New future for the King Alfred Leisure Centre

The evaluation of proposed sites for the new flagship King Alfred Leisure Centre is almost complete and a final choice of options for the new facility will be announced in the new year.  

In addition to considering a range of options on the existing site, we have worked hard to evaluate other potential sites. More than 100 landowners, property developers and commercial agents were invited to come forward with any suitable sites in the west of the city.  

A detailed assessment of more than 20 publicly and privately owned sites was conducted. Each was assessed for its location, connectivity and accessibility, the availability of the land, its size and potential to deliver first-class facilities. Other factors considered were the cost to develop and future cost to maintain the building and any legal and planning restrictions. We also considered any possible disruption to local residents and sports centre users during the development phase.

We engaged with hundreds of residents in face-to-face meetings, drop-in sessions and digitally. Users of the current King Alfred, members of sports clubs, local residents’ groups and many others have been consulted as we strive to make the best choices possible to meet the needs of the city, now and in the future.

The current King Alfred is well used, with strong demand for both pools, but parts of the building date from the 1930s and it does not meet modern standards.  

Refurbishing the King Alfred would be extremely costly, and it would never be possible to match the energy efficiency or space efficiency standards of a new building. The current building does not represent value for money, whereas a new centre will be affordable to operate over the lifetime of the building, which is estimated at 30-40 years.  

The decision to build a new facility for the city forms part of Brighton & Hove’s Sports Facilities Investment Plan. The plan was drawn up following an extensive online public consultation exercise 'Your Sport, Your Vision, Your City', in 2020.  83% of respondents stated they wanted the council’s older sports centres to be replaced with modern, energy efficient facilities.

Funding for the new King Alfred will be raised by the disposal of part or all of the current site to a private residential developer. The site was allocated for this purpose in City Plan Part 1 published in 2016 following extensive consultation with the city. The plan also stated that the development is required to include community facilities and public access to the waterfront.

We will shortly have a final choice of options for the new facility. We have independent experts reviewing these options to determine which best balances value for money with what we know residents want. We will take both into account when making the final decision.

Once a final list of options is announced we will be asking residents for their views. Results of the engagement will inform the council’s final decision on which site will be chosen. A final decision on the choice of site will be made in early 2024. 

On site work is expected to begin in 2025 and, as far as is feasible, we aim to keep the existing centre open until completion of the new facility.

Bella Sankey, Leader of the Council, said: “The King Alfred Leisure Centre has served residents for decades and is a much-loved community asset. I have fond memories of learning to swim there, as do many of us and as my calendar shows, it’s still a firm favourite for kids’ birthday parties. 

“But as people will know, the centre has for some years been showing signs of deterioration. Now is the time for a new sports and leisure centre which serves the needs of residents, and which offers modern and sustainable facilities. 

“There is also a clear economic case for a new leisure centre which will have reduced running costs, providing a saving for the city in the long term.  

“We will continue to engage with residents and involve the local community on the plans as the scheme moves forward.  

”This is an exciting new chapter and we are all looking forward to seeing the new leisure centre come to fruition.” 

Councillor Alan Robins, Chair of the Culture, Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Economic Development Committee, added: “Like a lot of our residents, I have fond memories of time spent at the King Alfred Leisure Centre but it is clear that it is unsustainable to maintain the centre and it needs a refresh.

“Residents have made clear to us that they need and want improved sports facilities and we are absolutely committed to delivering that. 

“The new leisure centre will contribute significantly to the health and wellbeing of the community in a modern setting with excellent facilities. Our priority is to ensure the new centre is also inclusive and accessible for all.”

For further information about the project, please visit have a look at the King Alfred redevelopment web pages.