Council Planning Application
The King Alfred site offers a rare opportunity to create a world-class, multi-use leisure and entertainment destination — not just for Hove and Brighton, but for the wider region.
Our vision is rooted in three key principles:
Preserve and Enhance: Where possible, we retain and improve existing structures to honour the site's history and reduce environmental impact.
Expand and Diversify: We create new spaces that serve a far broader range of activities, ages, and interests than the current facilities allow.
Design for Flexibility: Every space is planned with multi-purpose use in mind, allowing for dynamic reconfiguration to meet evolving community needs.
DELIVERING MORE FOR LESS
By reusing the building footprint and structure:
Larger facility: The proposed redevelopment offers more facilities (ice rink, competition pool, gymnastics centre, cinemas, FlowRider) within the same overall envelope compared to the smaller new-build council proposal.
Faster build time: Refurbishment and extension can be completed significantly quicker than demolishing, clearing, and constructing a brand-new complex — reducing public disruption and accelerating access to new facilities.
Better value for money: More sports, leisure, and community offerings per pound spent, delivering a landmark for the city without unnecessary overbuilding.
THREE KEY ZONES
Our alternative vision comprises three key "zones" -
Central Zone – (Original Building): Reception Retail shops for leisure and sports, Fitness, Dance and Wellbeing Suites Children's Soft Play Area, Ballroom and Event space, Mini theatre & cinema space, Parent and Baby Pool Creche Facilities, State-of-the-art gym and stations, Yoga and Pilates studios, VR Immersive Experience Spaces, Laser Tag Spaces, Escape Rooms, Roof Garden, Cafe/Restaurant Bar, Indoor climbing and bouldering walls, Multipurpose Sports Hall, Quick Refreshment Serving Points
East Zone – Aquatic Centre: 50m dividable competition pool with raisable floor for dry events, Diving area 1, 3, 5, 7.5, 10m boards, Kids' Splash Pool with water slides (by day) / FlowRider wave surfing machine (by night), Spectator seating for Aquatic events
West Zone – Ice and Bowling Complex: Full-size competition-standard 56m x 26m ice rink, ten-pin bowling alley & arcade, Spectator seating