THE multi-million regeneration of a landmark seafront building has been put on hold after it was discovered there is not enough electricity on site.

Saltdean Lido Community Interest Company (CIC) has announced work on the £10 million regeneration of the Grade II* art deco building has been suspended after it was uncovered the venue had an insufficient energy supply.

CIC bosses claim the project is being jeopardised by Brighton and Hove City Council’s failure to support plans for a new electricity substation on the site.

Saltdean Lido CIC chairwoman Rebecca Crook said it was “heartbreaking” that the energy shortage could scupper the project.

It had been hoped the lido would re-open next summer after its refurbishment had been completed over the winter.

But those hopes have now been thrown into chaos after electrical consultants discovered power cables had been incorrectly labelled and could only deliver a third of the power the lido needs.

Lido campaigners claim they were given assurances in July that the council “would do everything they could” to help meet the costs of a new sub-station which UK Power Networks estimate to be £70,000 excluding VAT.

The CIC claim the council withdrew offers of financial support in subsequent correspondence with an emergency meeting held today failing to lead to a solution.

Lido bosses said the £8 million they have raised is already allocated to specific build costs and they are not in a position to accommodate unexpected expenses.

The CIC is awaiting to sign the building contract with the pool company for the next phase of works but cannot do so if there is insufficient power supply to the site.

Ms Crook said: “It is heartbreaking to have come so far and got so close to reaching our goal.

“When our group was named as the next leaseholder of the Saltdean Lido site, councillors instructed officials to give us every assistance possible but unfortunately the opposite has happened.

“We feel that the project handled by council officials is now at a serious cross-roads and if we do not receive the councils full support at this time it will be in jeopardy.”

A Brighton and Hove City council spokeswoman said the authority had examined the business case of the CIC and identified that there is substantial funding in their accounts.

The council has offered a top up loan of £10,000 to help meet the new costs.

She added: “Each individual project that we support is assessed on its merit and in this instance we don’t believe that there is any need to loan any more funds.

"We have to be particularly careful about funding as we face a further £68million of government cuts over the next four years.”