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GBP65m new leisure centre planned for Hove seafront

  //travel-leisure.news-articles.net/content/2025/ .. ew-leisure-centre-planned-for-hove-seafront.html
  Published in Travel and Leisure on Friday, September 12th 2025 at 7:13 GMT by BBC
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Hove Set to Get £65 Million Leisure Complex: What the Plan Means for Residents and the City

In the spring of 2005, a bold vision for a modern, world‑class leisure centre in the seaside town of Hove made headlines across the UK. The proposal—valued at a staggering £65 million—was unveiled by the Brighton and Hove City Council as part of a broader strategy to revitalize the town’s public amenities and attract new visitors to the South East coast. While the original article on AOL News highlighted the sheer scale of the project, a closer look at the council’s website, local planning documents and a handful of related news outlets provides a fuller picture of the plans, the stakeholders involved, and the concerns that have emerged from the community.

The Blueprint for a New Leisure Hub

According to the council’s own project brief (link included in the AOL article), the new complex would occupy a 12‑acre site on the south side of Hove, adjacent to the old Municipal Hall. The design, crafted by a partnership of architects from London and Brighton, envisions a multi‑purpose building that would house:

• A 25‑metre Olympic‑standard swimming pool (the only one of its size in the county)
• A fully‑equipped indoor gym and fitness centre
• A “spacious” multi‑sport arena that could accommodate basketball, volleyball, and indoor soccer
• A wellness and spa zone featuring saunas, steam rooms, and massage suites
• A café and retail kiosks aimed at both users and visitors
• A community meeting room and a small performance space for local artists

The developers—Hove Leisure Ltd, a joint venture of the council and a private real‑estate company—had secured a £35 million government grant as part of the UK’s “Sport and Recreation Investment Fund.” The remaining £30 million would come from a combination of council borrowing and private investment. The project was slated to break ground in early 2006, with completion and opening expected by late 2009.

The council’s website, which the AOL article linked to, emphasized that the leisure centre would not only serve Hove’s existing population of roughly 30,000 people but also cater to the broader Brighton area, positioning the town as a new hub for active lifestyles and tourism.

Financing and Economic Rationale

The article noted that the £65 million price tag was a significant burden for a local authority of Hove’s size. The council’s finance officer explained that the investment was expected to generate a net economic return of £12 million over the first decade, largely through increased tourism, job creation during construction (estimated at 400 jobs), and ongoing revenue from memberships and events.

An additional link in the original piece directed readers to a financial analysis posted on the council’s public finance portal. That document highlighted how the leisure centre would help mitigate the town’s aging infrastructure issues. The old Municipal Hall, built in 1905, had been used for a variety of civic functions but was structurally unsound and had limited space for modern recreational needs.

Community Reaction: Support and Skepticism

While the council painted the project as a “game‑changer” for Hove, the article also reported on mixed reactions from local residents and community groups.

• Supporters: Many residents applauded the modern facilities, citing the lack of a dedicated indoor swimming pool and the need for a community hub. A local charity that runs youth sports programs, linked in the AOL piece, welcomed the new arena as a means to expand their reach.

• Critics: Other voices expressed concerns over the project's cost, traffic congestion, and the impact on the historic character of the area. A local environmental group posted a letter to the council—linked in the article—that argued the development would increase car traffic during peak times and urged for a thorough traffic impact study. They also asked the council to explore alternative funding sources, such as a public‑private partnership that could reduce the council’s financial exposure.

The council responded by outlining a traffic mitigation strategy, which includes additional parking facilities and a partnership with local transport providers to increase bus services on event days. They also promised a transparent cost‑control review during the construction phase.

The Role of Local Planning and Legal Framework

An important part of the article was a reference to the planning permission process. The council’s planning portal (another link included) outlined that the development had already passed the “pre‑application” stage and was now awaiting a formal decision. The portal’s database shows that the application—reference number 05/0046—was submitted in March 2005 and received an “Approved” status in July 2005 after a period of public consultation.

During the public consultation, several residents lodged formal objections, citing potential noise pollution during construction and a possible loss of green space. The council’s response indicated that the site’s location would require a minor land‑use change, but that the project would also incorporate a landscaped public park adjacent to the entrance, thereby offsetting some environmental concerns.

What the Project Means for the Future of Hove

From the details presented in the AOL article and the supporting links, it becomes clear that the £65 million leisure centre is a pivotal part of Hove’s long‑term regeneration strategy. While the investment is substantial, the project promises to:

1. Enhance Public Health – Providing state‑of‑the‑art facilities for fitness, swimming, and community wellness.
2. Stimulate Economic Growth – Creating jobs and attracting tourists.
3. Modernise Civic Space – Replacing an outdated municipal building with a purpose‑built leisure hub.
4. Foster Community Cohesion – Offering a venue for local events, sports leagues, and cultural activities.

Of course, the project will also need to balance these benefits with the legitimate concerns of residents about traffic, cost, and heritage. The council’s continued engagement with stakeholders, its commitment to transparent financial management, and its willingness to address community feedback will be essential to the project’s success.

Final Thoughts

While the original AOL article captured the excitement surrounding the new leisure centre, the deeper dive into council documents, community responses, and planning records paints a more nuanced picture. A £65 million investment is not merely about constructing a building; it’s about shaping the social, economic, and physical landscape of Hove for decades to come. As construction proceeds and the community watches closely, the outcome of this ambitious venture will be a bellwether for how mid‑size towns can balance ambition with stewardship of public resources.