Frank Gehry’s £290 million King Alfred scheme in Hove looks likely to be abandoned after investor ING Real Estates withdrew backing.

The highly contentious project for 750 apartments and a new public leisure centre was thrown into doubt this month when developer Karis confirmed Gehry had left the project, with HOK taking the role of lead architect.

Karis’s managing director Josh Arghiros vowed to return with a new backer and said he would bring Gehry back, telling the Brighton Argus this week: “We want to have Frank Gehry on board to amend the scheme, and I think this could give us the opportunity to get the best of this. We now need to sit down with the council and discuss viability.”

But campaigning group Save Hove claimed Gehry’s withdrawal left the project in breach of its development agreement because Karis failed to inform Brighton & Hove City Council. 
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