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A local MP says he has been “bitterly frustrated” by the time it is taking to redevelop a seafront leisure centre. MP Peter Kyle for Hove and Portslade has raised his concerns over the redevelopment of the King Alfred Leisure Centre in Kingsway, Hove. In an interview with The Argus, Mr Kyle said that if he could, he would “buy a hammer” himself and knock the site down himself.
He said: “I've been so bitterly frustrated about the failure to get King Alfred developed over the years and bring world class sports facilities to our community. “You know, I've been tempted at times to go to Robert Dyes and buy a hammer and start knocking it down myself.” The leisure centre is more than 80-years-old and is described by council cabinet members as “beyond the end of its life”.
King Alfred Leisure Centre (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus) Benfield Valley in Hangleton was earmarked for a new leisure centre to be developed, following the potential demolition of the site. However In July, Labour-led Brighton and Hove City Council’s cabinet decided it will rebuild the leisure centre on its current site in Hove rather than in Benfield Valley. It was then revealed in January that it had appointed Alliance Leisure to take lead of a new sports and leisure facility.
“It's great that we're making progress and credit to this council that we're finally going to get a project over the line,” the MP added. “It's been there since your grandparents were kids, I'd imagine. So, it'd be good to see it revamped and turned into a great facility because it's always been a great facility.
” The designs will be developed and reviewed at a council cabinet meeting this summer. The council has stated that the designs must meet "modern sports and energy standards" and be "value for money". The council promised they will be shared with residents prior to the submission of the full planning application.
A planning application is expected to be submitted by the end of the year, and work to begin by early 2026..
