Historic England have now confirmed that the existing King Alfred Leisure Centre will not be added to the list of buildings of special architectural or historic interest.
In December, it was announced that an application for listed building status had been submitted to Historic England.
It came amid concerns from Keep and Retrofit The King Alfred Leisure Centre, a group which has over 1,000 members on Facebook, who are calling for the centre to be refurbished, rather than demolished.
Artists impression of the new King Alfred Leisure Centre in Hove (Image: BHCC)
Brighton and Hove City Council celebrated Historic England’s decision, stating it as an “important moment” which allows the project to “move forward confidently”.
Councillor Alan Robins, Cabinet Member for Sports, Recreation and Libraries, said: “Many people have great affection for the King Alfred, and I understand why. It’s played a big part in our city’s life. But the reality is that the building simply can’t be refurbished to the standard our residents deserve.
“The decision from Historic England gives us the clarity we need to move forward and fully focus on redeveloping the site for the west of the city.
“We’ve waited a long time for a new leisure centre for this part of Brighton & Hove, and this year we’ve made real progress, appointing Alliance Leisure, assembling the project team and securing approval to demolish the existing facility so we can redevelop the site with a modern centre.”
Historic England informed the council of the decision on January 20, following an initial assessment which found that the building did not meet the criteria for listing.
The £65 million development includes plans for a fitness suite, leisure water area and family entertainment zone. A first look at the plans was revealed in September.
Artist’s impressions of what the King Alfred will look like (Image: UGC)
The council said the proposed facility will transform the current seafront site into a “modern, accessible and sustainable leisure destination for all”, with spaces for sports, leisure and social and wellbeing activities.
It added that following technical assessments undertaken by the council, it was found that refurbishment of the building is “not viable”.
The council said redevelopment will allow it to replace failing infrastructure and deliver a modern leisure centre, which meets energy-efficient standards, is fully accessible for all, and ensures long-term value for money.
The council said it will continue to update residents, leisure users and local partners as the project progresses.
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