The £400 million King Alfred redevelopment which will see a new leisure centre and hundreds of new homes will be led by a Hove businessman.

Businessman Rob Starr working with housebuilder Crest Nicholson was selected ahead of the French group Bouygues for the £400 million scheme.

Councillors were asked to choose between Hove-based charity The Starr Trust  or the French firm with designs drawn up by Brighton based architect Nick Lomax to end the 15 year search to redevelop the site.

The decision earlier tonight gave the green light for £8 million of public money towards the cost of the £40 million new leisure centre.

The bid will not include a 50 metre swimming pool despite thousands of residents signing a petition for the Olympic size facility.