MYSTIFYING red walls and giant portraits mark progress on a long-stalled city project.

The unusual construction site hoardings advertise Field BTN, a research laboratory which will be part of the £150million redevelopment of Preston Barracks.

The site has been derelict for a quarter of a century but the eye-catching walls are a sign of progress.

The lab will create workspace, technical infrastructure, business support and up to 740 new jobs over ten years.

Having exchanged contracts with Brighton University and developers Cathedral in July, the parties are in discussion with a full planning application expected later this year.

A public consultation will be held in late spring. The hoardings are the start of a teaser campaign to get local people and creative start-ups involved.

Bike designers, potters, sculptors and artists are already part of the development process. Before building starts, the desolate site will form the dramatic backdrop to an outdoor adaptation of cult novel Farenheit 451 as part of the Brighton Festival on Saturday, May 16.

Cathedral submitted a business case for the lab in October. The lab will cost £13million with £7.7million coming from the Local Growth Fund and £5.5million sourced by developers.

The development of Preston Barracks and nearby University of Brighton Mithras House and Watts Building will create 350 houses, 750 student bedrooms, shops, a university research laboratory and a health centre.

Any money the council makes from the site’s sale can only be spent on city regeneration.

A Brighton and Hove spokesman said: “The council is working closely with the University of Brighton and the Cathedral Group on the redevelopment.

“A sale has not yet been completed and a detailed planning application has not yet been submitted.

“The money the council will receive will depend on what is finally agreed for the site through the planning process and what amount is payable to the Ministry of Defence.”