Brighton & Hove Council has abandoned its hunt for a development partner for the £400m King Alfred scheme.
The council has officially dropped the procurement following the departure of selected partner Crest Nicholson.
The plans had proposed 560 homes and the replacement of the 1930s-built King Alfred Leisure Centre on the 4.5-acre site.
But Brighton & Hove has been forced back to the drawing board for the second time since launching the project in 2003.
It will now launch a full review considering the objectives, specifically the sports centre requirements, and alternative delivery options, including exploring alternative sites for the sports centre.
The council selected Crest Nicholson in partnership with Starr Trust as the preferred bidder in 2016, with a development agreement due to be signed on 25 January 2019.
However, the regeneration specialist refused to sign the agreement citing a need for “greater clarity on the form and timing of Brexit” and highlighting struggles to fund the build.
Crest Nicholson pulled out of the project in August and the council has opted to end the current procurement and establish a new project.
The latest saga follows the appointment of developer Karis in 2003. Karis failed to secure funding and was dropped in 2008, with the council relaunching plans in 2013.
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