A 15-STOREY tower will become a town’s tallest building despite strong public opposition.

Councillors have given the green light to the £35 million redevelopment of the Aquarena site in Worthing at a specially arranged planning committee meeting.

Council officers had said the estimated £15 million economic benefits to the town outweighed any harm to nearby historical sites and last night the project was finally waved through.

More than 2,300 residents had opposed the revamped scheme claiming that its tower will be too high.

The approved plans by Roffey Homes for the 49-year-old former swimming pool and public car park in Brighton Road includes 141 apartments, a commercial unit and café on the 0.7 hectare site.

A previous application for 147 flats including a 21-storey tower was rejected in September 2015.

As well as reducing the tallest tower by six storeys, the approved plans also do away with a nine-storey building in Brighton Road, increased residents parking from 150 spaces to 172 and more cycle parking.

But there will be a drop in the number of affordable homes from 39 to 33 and in public car parking spaces from 69 spaces to 51.