Planning permission has been granted for a new Sand Sports centre as part of Hove Beach Park.
At the Planning committee meeting on Wednesday 5 March 2025 councillors voted to approve an application by Yellowave Brighton for the centre, which will include three sand courts for beach volleyball, beach tennis and footvolley, alongside a multi-use area that can be used for 5-a-side beach soccer, life-saving training and fitness.
Yellowave Hove will also include a sports reception, small cafe, accessible toilet with baby-changing facilities and free kids’ sand pit. It will also have a Beach House room available for hire, providing an indoor space available for community activities, such as school beach education days, yoga, First Aid training and parent and toddler groups.
The application included the change of use of existing public toilets, the demolition of an existing detached accessible WC, the erection of single storey detached community facility, associated perimeter fencing and a new landscaped surface around the water fountain.
As part of the Hove Beach Park project new public toilets will shortly be opened close by at the new Outdoor Sports Hub.
Speaking at Planning committee Councillor Julie Cattell, lead member for major projects, said: “This proposal is the last piece of the jigsaw puzzle that will complete Hove Beach Park – the first new park in the city for more than 100 years.”
Representations were considered by the Planning committee from 91 people objecting to the proposed development and 111 supporting it. Among these, Councillor Cattell highlighted comments received on “the obvious public health benefits of the sporting facilities”.
Katie Mintram, Yellowave director, said: “We are thrilled to be able to bring beach sports to Hove. We will be working with a whole host of local sports clubs, schools and colleges to offer more beach volleyball, beach tennis and beach soccer in the city, to complement the sports on offer at our Madeira Drive site.”
The Yellowave Hove webpage says: “It is hoped that by August 1 2025, the first players should be enjoying sand between their toes.”
