City residents will be asked whether flats should fund redevelopment of the King Alfred Leisure Centre.

Brighton and Hove city council want to know whether people agree new or improved sports facilities should mainly be funded through a housing development to include affordable homes.

A survey leaflet will arrive on people's doorsteps asking specifically about three options for the sports facilities, each involving different numbers of flats.

Leaflets will be mailed to 4,000 homes in the King Alfred area, selected at random from the electoral register and representing 16 per cent of households.

They will also go to schools who use the centre, voluntary groups, sports clubs and King Alfred members.

Copies will be available in libraries, leisure centres and other public buildings.

Options are:

A new leisure centre with a bigger swimming pool, larger sports hall, extended fitness facilities and other improvements, with 300-400 flats.

Keeping and refurbishing the existing swimming pools but demolishing and replacing the older part of the sports centre. This would include a large sports hall and involve 300-350 flats.

Refurbishing and remodelling the existing centre. This would involve 275-325 flats but would not provide new pools or a bigger sports hall.

All options would include cafes, restaurants and some shops.

Forty per cent of flats would be low-cost homes, mainly for rent, aimed at key workers or people on the housing waiting list.

Coun Mike Middleton said: "We're being completely open about what's happening.

"Option One gives us a brand new leisure centre which best meets the needs of the community. It also makes the best use of a brownfield site and provides the biggest contribution to solving the local housing crisis.

"I will be very interested to see whether residents across the city agree with us."