Councillors are being asked to agree to progress the development of a new leisure facility on part of the existing King Alfred seafront site.
The recommendation, which goes before Cabinet next week, follows a comprehensive search, where two proposed site options for a new leisure centre were identified. The existing King Alfred site and the council owned green space at the land south of Sainsbury’s (LSS) in West Hove were presented to residents for comment in January 2024.
It takes into account feedback from the community, alongside detailed evaluation carried out by independent experts to examine the practicality, financial viability, health & wellbeing impacts, and value for money of the options.
Over the last 18 months we’ve engaged extensively with residents, sports clubs, leaseholders and local community groups, including more than 3,600 responses to our questionnaire on the site options earlier this year, as well as face-to-face engagement sessions and comments to the project team.
Feedback showed a range of views among residents from different parts of the community but responses to the survey showed that 70% indicated they would regularly use a new facility at the existing site, compared to 37% for the LSS site (and suggesting that 7% would be happy to use either site).
Responses included a desire for ongoing provision at the existing site, concerns about the impact of development on the LSS site in terms of noise, traffic, parking and property values. Respondents also felt it was important that any new facility be accessible for all.
Independent evaluation of the sites shows that development on either site is economically viable.
A new facility on the existing site would deliver significant benefits for the city and development would match City Plan Part 1 allocation for a sports facility and residential development on the site.
While a site on the land south of Sainsbury’s has the potential to deliver the greatest economic and health & wellbeing benefits, there are planning and legal factors which would add time, cost, and risk to the delivery of the project.
Development on the LSS site would also mean the loss of green space and would require an alternative ground to be found for Portslade Cricket Club.
The cost and practicality of refurbishing the existing facility at the King Alfred site is not considered to be a viable option.
Extensive work would be needed to extend the usable life of the facility by around 10 years and would not be a good investment.
Work would not deliver more or better facilities that would meet modern sporting standards and it would not improve the energy or space efficiency of the building. During that time, the running costs would remain high and heat loss, heating costs, and emissions would remain much higher than for a new build.
After 10 years it would still need to be replaced with a modern facility.
Councillor Alan Robins, Cabinet Member for Sports and Recreation, said: “The King Alfred Leisure Centre is still popular and well-loved, but it’s near the end of its life, is in constant need of repair and is expensive to run.
“The health and wellbeing needs of our residents is a priority, so it’s really important we listened to what they actually wanted from a new sports centre.
“Having looked at what residents said, alongside cost and viability, we believe a new facility on the existing site will deliver a modern, energy efficient leisure centre that residents can be proud of for years to come.”
During the meeting on 18 July, Cabinet members will be asked to agree that part of the existing seafront King Alfred site is the preferred site for the development of a new sports and leisure facility to replace the ageing King Alfred Leisure Centre in the west of the city.
They are also being asked to approve an estimated £2.7 million budget to progress the design of the project and agree how the capital budget and ongoing revenue costs will be funded.
Delivering the new facility will be a major project that will require significant planning and preparation.
Following Cabinet’s decision, a team will be appointed to begin design work.
We would not expect any work to begin on site before early 2026 and the facility is not expected to open before Spring 2028.
The intention is to keep the current facility open and operating for as long as is possible.
The full report can be read on the council’s website.
Read more about the background and development of the new leisure centre so far.
