A BID for £4 million of Government funding to restore the crumbling seafront arches was submitted yesterday - with just minutes to spare

Brighton and Hove City Council bosses have been working on the proposal for months hoping to bring the Madeira Arches back to life, creating an estimated 145 jobs in the process and adding £5 million to the economy each year.

The funding, if granted, will go towards the estimated £24 million vision which was exclusively revealed in The Argus on June 9.

Plans have been made to build around 50 glass-fronted pods within each of the restored arches.

The proposal suggests possible uses including a hotel, youth hostel, arts centre, gallery, cafe, boutique retail and start-up space for creative and digital firms.

Council leader Warren Morgan said the project would be part of the wider regeneration of the eastern seafront which will include a new arena and convention centre at Black Rock, a sea swimming centre at Peter Pan’s playground and a zip-wire attraction.

He added that the arches would be redeveloped in phases with the first completed in 2019/20 and other sections finished by 2023.

As well as hopefully being granted £4 million from the Government's Coastal Communities Fund, he said the council is considering approaching the Public Work Loans Board – the same Government agency which contributed £36.2 million to the i360.

He added that the local authority would also look at crowdfunding and try to attract private backers.

Speaking to The Argus at the Great British Coastal Conference at the Hilton Metropole yesterday morning, Cllr Morgan said he was confident that they would be able to raise the cash.

Speaking just 45 minutes before the midday deadline for bid submissions, he said: "The bid is going in as we speak. We are just pressing the button on it."

Mark Francois MP, minister of state for communities and resilience, visited the arches yesterday afternoon and spoke to council officials about the bid.

However, speaking exclusively to The Argus, he said he could not promise anything.

He said: "We have to judge every bid on its merits, as the deadline is today I can't pre judge the whole competition because we haven't had all the bids yet. But if Brighton can put in a persuasive bid then they have a good chance."