Public Summary
Brighton & Hove City Council has asked planning specialists DHA to assess whether the proposed new King Alfred Leisure Centre needs a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
An EIA is only required for projects likely to have major environmental impacts.
What’s being proposed
The Council plans to:
- replace the ageing King Alfred Leisure Centre with a modern leisure facility
- redevelop the existing car park and disused bowling alley
- provide new sports facilities including:
- a 25m pool and teaching pool
- gym, sports hall and studios
- café and family leisure spaces
- include a basement car park, new landscaping, and improved public spaces
- key findings
DHA's conclusions
After reviewing the site, the design, and likely environmental effects, DHA concluded the following.
1. The site is not environmentally sensitive.
The land is not within or close to areas such as conservation sites, national parks, or other protected designations.
2. The new building will replace an existing leisure centre.
Because it is effectively a like‑for‑like facility in use, the development will not significantly alter:
- traffic levels
- air quality
- noise
- landscape views
3. No major environmental impacts are expected.
The assessment found no likely significant effects in areas including:
- transport - similar visitor numbers to today
- air quality - the site is outside air quality management areas
- noise - similar activity already exists
- heritage - nearby listed buildings will not be harmed
- biodiversity - some planting improvements and 10% biodiversity net gain will be delivered
- flooding - the site is in a low‑risk flood zone
- contamination - risks can be managed through standard construction practices
4. Normal planning controls are enough.
Most environmental matters can be managed through:
- standard mitigation measures
- construction management plans
- detailed assessments submitted with the planning application, for example traffic, heritage and flood risk
Overall conclusion
The report concludes that the new King Alfred Leisure Centre does not require a full Environmental Impact Assessment, because it is not likely to produce significant environmental effects. The final decision will be made by Brighton & Hove City Council.
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