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Crest Nicholson has withdrawn from plans to deliver a £50m leisure centre and new housing in Hove.

Crest Nicholson has withdrawn from plans to deliver a £50m leisure centre and new housing in Hove.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

Putting innovation at the heart of devo

By Kathy Nothstine | 28 July 2026

Place-based innovation funds can help Andy Burnham’s devolution agenda deliver growth, better services and regional prosperity, says Kathy Nothstine.

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Will Burnham's drive to build homes be successful?

By David Blackman | 28 July 2026

Like several Prime Ministers before him, Andy Burnham has pledged to build new homes. That will not happen without local authorities and they have been out o...

ECONOMIC GROWTH

Burnham promises to give councils more powers as Rayner returns to replace Reed

By Neil Merrick | 20 July 2026

Andy Burnham has promised to give councils greater powers to tackle problems such as rough sleeping and social care while moving decision-making away from Wh...

ECONOMIC GROWTH

The problem with housing: Viability

By Heather Jameson | 17 July 2026

Uncertainty, viability and devolution: local authorities face a collection of hurdles and opportunities when it comes to delivering much-needed housing. The ...

Popular articles by Laura Sharman