Final seafront designs go on show

A model of the Frank Gehry design is on show in the city library

Plans for a controversial £250m sports and housing development on Hove seafront by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry have been finalised.

The design for the King Alfred leisure centre site includes 754 flats, 40% of which are affordable housing, in two towers and several lower blocks.

There is also a sports centre with a multi-coloured domed roof.

Models and drawings of the scheme went on display to the public in Brighton's new Jubilee Library on Tuesday.

It would be alien to the conservation areas nearby Ken Fines

Brighton and Hove's policy and resources committee, acting as landlord of the site, approved the final details of the development on Monday night.

The formal planning application will be submitted by Brighton developer Karis Holdings this week.

Gehry, an award-winning Canadian architect whose previous work includes the titanium-clad Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, teamed up with Karis for the project.

The King Alfred development, which originally included four towers, has been criticised as an "eyesore" and looking "like Noddyland".

But leader of Brighton and Hove City Council, Ken Bodfish, said it was time for the city, famous for its Regency heritage, to move forward.

Frank Gehry has designed buildings in America, France and Scotland

"We have an opportunity to turn Brighton and Hove into a city of this century rather than of the past," he said.

"Frank Gehry is one of the world's greatest living architects and his buildings are iconic.

"His buildings say something about the city and say something about tomorrow."

However, many local people are opposed to the scheme.

"Its height, its density, its bizarre, crumpled design and its proclaimed riot of colour would be highly intrusive to the character of the Hove seafront and alien to the conservation areas nearby," said campaigner Ken Fines.

Sue Johnson, deputy leader of the council, said she believed the scheme would be an award-winner.

"It will change the design of sports centres in the UK for the next 20 years."

Councillors approved a Green Party request for a £1m transport scheme to serve the site and for renewable energy and water and waste recycling provision.

The three Conservative councillors on the committee voted against the development.