A FORMER ice rink looks set to be converted into new housing after a previously agreed proposal to create a five-storey hotel fell through.

Council officials have recommended that Brighton and Hove City Council’s planning committee give the go ahead for a newly revised plan to convert the former ice rink site into homes and office space.

Plans for a 56-bedroom hotel were granted two years ago but have not proved to be commercially viable for a hotel of that size.

Now the site, which has lain dormant for more than a decade, is set to be demolished and replaced with 31 flats and office space at today’s planning committee.

The plans, submitted on behalf of London-based developer Stonehurst Estates, look likely to go ahead despite concerns from residents and conservation groups about a lack of parking facilities, the height of the building, loss of sunlight and privacy.

Brighton and Hove City Council has received 13 letters of objection from people who live near the building, which currently has an underground car park but will have no parking under the new plans, with many complaining the new residents will create further congestion in surrounding streets.

The Regency Society said it regretted the loss of plans for a restaurant and “proposals to enliven Queen Square”, while the council’s own heritage team, which raised concerns during the original application, also said it was disappointing the amended plans had not addressed any of its main concerns.

Paul Zara, director at the project’s Brighton-based architects Conran + Partners, said it was not unusual for car-free city centre schemes and that it was part of the council’s own policy.

Mr Zara said that the site was very well served by local bus and rail routes.

He added: “All the issues such as the scale of the building have all been dealt with in the previous application so effectively this is just a change of use from a hotel to housing.

“One of the major objections to the hotel was the noise and anti-social behaviour from guests but all that goes away with the new scheme, which addresses the need for housing in the city and regenerates a site that has been vacant for a long time.”

Councillors sitting on the planning committee are due to discuss the application today at 2pm in the council chamber at Hove Town Hall.