Parking and travel arrangements

What parking provision will be available?

The specification for the new facility includes a parking provision in the undercroft of the site. The design for the new facility aims to provide similar capacity to the current carpark, around 120 spaces.

Six blue badge parking bays have been lost to set up the site compound for asbestos removal. What arrangements are being made to replace these?

We recognise that it is regrettable that the 6 blue badge bays in front of the King Alfred facility have been lost. However, that has been unavoidable in order to enable the set-up the site compound which is needed for the essential soft strip works in the King Alfred basement area.

We have worked with our contractor Willmott Dixon to keep their site compound as compact as possible, and to re-provide the 6 parking spaces as close as possible to the original location. The contractors have already completed that work, with 6 blue badge spaces now added to the adjacent car park.

More on disabled parking opportunities

We are also working closely with groups representing disabled people, and from those discussions we recognise that on-street parking is preferable for some users, for example those with high-sided vehicles. With that in mind we are working with our planning colleagues with a view to adding three new on-street blue badge spaces nearby. Together with the 6 bays already re-provided, that will result in a net increase of three to the number of designated blue badge bays in the area.

In addition to the designated bays, blue badge holders may also park free of charge in any of the paid-for bays in the area and may also park on double yellow lines for up to 3 hours.

Will the six blue badge bays at the seafront be replaced after the works are completed?

The seafront bays will not be replaced. The new King Alfred facility will extend onto the esplanade, and the road will have to be stopped-up to enable that to happen. The undercroft car park at the new facility will feature 8 blue badge bays which will be located for maximum convenience being close to both the main vehicular access and the lift to surface level.

The whole facility has been designed to reflect current regulation and best practice in accessibility, with extensive engagement with groups representing disabled people. The new facility will provide a much better proposition for the city’s disabled people, not just in terms of active leisure, but as an attractive destination from which to enjoy the location and sea views.

When the construction works begin next year, a separate temporary car park will be established on Hove Lawns, which will also feature blue badge spaces.

Have you done a predicted travel analysis for increased use at the current site?

A transport assessment has been completed in consultation with the Highways Authority and submitted as part of the planning application, and can be viewed here: LHA Pre-app Advice, LHA Pre-app Advice.