We are a group of Brighton and Hove residents trying to save and retrofit the King Alfred in Hove, one of the earliest multi-purpose leisure centres in the country - and commandeered as the H.M.S. King Alfred land ship, training 22,500 men and women as naval officers during WWII.

We wish to restore this art deco complex and unique piece of maritime history to its 1939 flagship glory, and at a fraction of the environmentally and financially (£65m and counting) ruinous cost of replacing the King Alfred with a smaller, poor quality, KALC leisure "hub" as proposed, containing almost nothing for children. 

Generations of Brighton and Hove families have grown up using the King Alfred and continue to do so. Losing the King Alfred would also mean losing the only Ballroom in Hove, FitLab gym, the famous 80 year old Boxing Club, the Children's outdoor play park, one of the Sports Halls, the Swimming Lagoon, the MyHelm after school and holiday club and any hope of ever re-opening the much missed underground Bowling Alley - also the first to open outside London in 1964.

There is a recent example of an award winning retrofit project only a few miles away where the 1937 Saltdean Lido was actually derelict and designated for demolition and the community came together and fought for its refurbishment. This is now an award winning Grade II* Listed Lido - the only coastal Lido of its kind in the country. This shows what can be done and is now inspiring save and retrofit projects around the country, but sadly not with Brighton and Hove City Council, despite their stated commitment to net zero and a circular economy.

Who am I? I am a local campaigner for heritage and public assets, who, together with friends and fellow residents, came together when we realised the King Alfred was at threat of a poorly-designed plan which offered no public benefit for no best value cost, but took public land out of public use, reduced facilities and increased prices for an overpriced KALC "hub" which looks like a shipping container and is not fit for a prime seafront location, which is also bordered by Conservation Areas on three sides.

Summary - There is now a live planning application BH2026/00490 here where you can see the new KALC leisure "hub" plans and why we are objecting to them. Currently there are 92% objections including from Save Britain's Heritage, The Brighton Society, The Regency Society, Hove Civic Society. If you have not already you can also legally object to them until the day of the Planning Committee meeting (yet to be confirmed by Brighton and Hove City Council)

Call to action - We are raising money to pay for a recommended Planning Consultant and a recommended London legal company which specialises in planning issues. We need your support: Please contribute whatever you can afford and share this page now!

What we are trying to achieve - We seek for Planning permission to be refused for this Planning Application because whether you are a fan of retrofitting heritage or of new development, this proposal is UNFIT for purpose and offers no best value or public benefit.

The next step in the case - To prepare for the Planning Committee which will decide this planning application.

How much we are raising and why - We are seeking to raise up to £100,000 in the event of a Judicial Review against the Council, whose leader has made it clear that the more opposition the King Alfred redevelopment project gets, the more determined she is to make it happen.

Thank you so much for your donation. We appreciate every penny.