BRIGHTON AND HOVE: King Alfred deal

The deal – known as a development agreement – will mean that Crest Nicholson can move forward with plans to build a new swimming pool, leisure centre and hundreds of new homes.

The terms of the agreement are expected to be put before senior members of Brighton and Hove City Council in a fortnight‘s time.

The council’s Policy, Resources and Growth Committee is due to discuss the proposals at Hove Town Hall on Thursday 6 December.

The proposed deal was flagged up this afternoon (Thursday 22 November) by Nick Hibberd, the council’s executive director for economy, environment and culture, when the council’s Tourism, Development and Culture Committee met.

He was responding to a question from Green councillor Tom Druitt about how long the council would give Crest Nicholson to move ahead with its plans to build more than 500 flats on the seafront site.

Councillor Druitt asked what the impact of Brexit was on the redevelopment which will also include a new leisure centre, swimming pools and a car park.

He also asked whether there would have been greater scrutiny if the King Alfred Project Board still existed.

Labour councillor Alan Robins, who chairs the Tourism, Development and Culture Committee, said: “Uncertainty has impacted on the scheme’s viability since Crest Nicholson’s appointment.

“There is a pressing need to conclude matters.”

Councillor Robins said that there was regular scrutiny of the proposed £400 million development through the council‘s Strategic Delivery Board.

It was given an update at every meeting, he said, and received details and presentations at every key stage.

Sarah Booker-Lewis , Local Democracy Reporting Service