King Alfred developers win £15m funding

The cash was from the Government’s Housing Infrastructure Fund which aims to ‘fix the broken housing market’.

King Alfred developers Crest Nicholson and The Starr Trust told the Brighton & Hove Independent last November that it was applying for the grant in partnership with the council because of a funding gap in the £200 million project.

Scott Black, managing director of Crest Nicholson Regeneration, said Brexit and rising costs had prompted the developer to request £15m grant for delayed scheme.

After winning the bid, Mr Black said “We are delighted that the King Alfred scheme has been selected for additional funding, and the project can now progress quickly. Since winning the initial bid in January 2016 we have been working hard to bring this project to life and are excited to be moving to the next stage.

“Working in partnership with the local council we will invest circa £200m into the scheme of which over £65m will go directly to provide social, leisure and community benefit to the local community.”

Rob Starr from the Starr Trust, which is working in partnership with Crest Nicholson, said: “This is fantastic news for both the King Alfred project and Brighton. The scheme is set to transform the Brighton and Hove seafront and deliver many public benefits. This is truly an exciting time for our city.”

Council leader Warren Morgan said: “We’re massively pleased and proud to have submitted a bid which has won the second largest single sum in the country. It speaks volumes for our commitment to providing the housing the city desperately needs, alongside a first-class leisure centre. We have achieved a very significant step forward after years of difficulty getting this project off the ground.”

The scheme for the run-down leisure centre includes 560 flats in four blocks, a new £40 million sports centre with a swimming pool and gym, and new community and educational facilities.

The developer said the new homes, leisure centre, and community facilities will be predominantly funded by Crest Nicholson, and 20 per cent of new homes built will be affordable homes for the local community.

It is hoped a public consultation will take place in mid-2018 with a planning application submitted later this year.

The developer added that details of the longer-term programme will be published once contractual arrangements are finalised, but it hoped the sports centre would open in late 2022.

Cllr Tom Bewick, Labour councillor for Westbourne, said: “Local residents will be pleased to see some movement on the new leisure centre at the King Alfred, after a long and frustrating delay. It is critical now that the developers get on with the job of building.

“The council’s planning committee does need to look again at the designs. The last thing Hove needs is a Soviet-era train station built on that stretch of seafront. Something far more iconic and inspiring is required.”