Title

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Developer withdraws from multi-million Hove scheme

Crest Nicholson has withdrawn from plans to deliver a £50m leisure centre and new housing in Hove.

Crest Nicholson has withdrawn from plans to deliver a £50m leisure centre and new housing in Hove.

The developer said the scheme to redevelop the King Alfred site was overly ambitious in ‘uncertain' times.

Chris Tinker, interim CEO of Crest Nicholson, said: ‘It is now increasingly apparent that the growing cost of delivering the scheme, including the council's new £50m leisure centre, at a time when uncertainty has been increasing and values falling, means that the project is no longer able to support the provision of any affordable housing and remain viable.

Brighton and Hove City Council has worked with the developer on this scheme since 2016, with £23m of public money committed to the project.

Council leader, Nancy Platts, said: ‘Of course we are hugely disappointed that Crest Nicholson has confirmed it won't be progressing the redevelopment of the King Alfred site.

‘We've worked closely with their team to find a financially viable scheme to deliver a new public sports and leisure facility and provide affordable housing.'

The council said it was a priority to find a viable alternative.

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Restoring the third pillar of local authority finance: citizen investment

By Karl Harder | 23 April 2026

Karl Harder looks at the benefits of citizen investing.

ECONOMIC GROWTH

How we delivered the Youth Investment Fund in Blackburn with Darwen

By Imran Akuji | 21 April 2026

Delivering the Youth Investment Fund in Blackburn with Darwen required a deliberate shift in the council’s role from lead applicant to system steward, says I...

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Winning the war on waste?

By David Blackman | 16 April 2026

Is Reform UK’s waste drive just a saloon bar dream or are there still genuine efficiencies to be gleaned in local government? David Blackman reports

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Holding the LGR line?

By Ann McGauran | 09 April 2026

Will reorganisation be delivered ahead of the General Election, and to what extent is the Government’s need to shore up political capital driving decisions o...

Popular articles by Laura Sharman