King Alfred Leisure Centre: Hove councillors select developer

The development will include a £40m sports centre and 560 flats

The multi-million pound redevelopment of a Sussex leisure centre has taken a step forward after councillors selected the preferred bidder for the project.

Crest Nicholson, along with the Starr Trust, will carry out the work on the King Alfred Leisure Centre in Hove.

The scheme is subject to further design development, public consultation and planning permission.

It will include a £40m sports centre and 560 flats going up 18 storeys - 20% will be "affordable housing".

The decision was taken by a Brighton and Hove City Council committee on Thursday.

About £8m of council money will go towards the sports centre, which will include three swimming pools - one with changeable depths, a 120-station gym, a sports hall with space for eight badminton courts, three-rink indoor bowls, a sauna and a cafe.

'World-class'

Leading the whole project will be Rob Starr, of local children's charity, the Starr Trust.

He told BBC Sussex he had been pushing for the regeneration of the area for years, and the end result would be "community-based ".

"Part of that site will have a world-class leisure centre... and on top of that we've got lots of outside space - we've got a community hub for theatre, music, and education.

"We want to get the whole community involved... to enjoy the place," Mr Starr said.

The council said more details about the designs for the site would be released later.