Brighton seafront to receive

A proposal has been submitted for a new leisure facility to be built on Brighton seafront by SwimTrek, the world’s biggest open-water swimming operator.

The project named ‘Sky Wide Open’ will cost £3.2 million and will see the addition of a 50-metre heated open-air pool, indoor pools, and exercise studios, which will be open to the public all year round. This would transform land which is currently derelict and provide the community with top of the range sports facilities, as well as attract visitors on day trips and holidays to the beach.

Renovating the seafront with sports facilities

The centre would be a hub for swimming and sports-related businesses, which would be catered for by office spaces, and there will be units for retailers, as well as an area for pop-up shops during scheduled events. If the project is approved, there will also be a boardwalk created, so that disabled people who rely on mobility aids such as stairlifts or wheelchairs, can access the beach and sea more easily.

The project will be funded through private investment such as SwimTrek, which will mean that there is no cost for the council, and they will also help with the training for lifeguards in the surrounding area. By renovating this section of the seafront, Brighton would be provided with a centre of excellence for open-air swimming and would also help it to become a more accessible area of the town.

Brighton is already home to the oldest sea swimming club, which was founded in 1860, and has long been considered a health resort, since the therapeutic benefits of bathing in seawater as recommended by Dr Richard Russell in the 18^th century.

If the committee grants consent, the plans will then have to be submitted for permission following a public consultation. A final agreement will then be required by the council’s policy and resources committee.

Image Credit: chaosemerald (Flickr.com)