PLANS for a half-billion-pound development are being criticised by some who say residents should have been consulted over the project

It comes after The Argus revealed yesterday that outgoing Brighton and Hove City Council leader Warren Morgan is “really hopeful” the deal for a new conference venue at Black Rock will be signed before he leaves office next month.

The plan would involve the council selling the Brighton Centre and the land it owns at Black Rock in Kemp Town to Standard Life Investments (SLI) which owns Churchill Square shopping centre.

SLI would then expand Churchill Square down to the seafront and create a new 10,000-person capacity conference centre at Black Rock.

The deal is worth approximately £540 million.

The idea has been on the agenda of city planners for 20 years and this specific scheme has been under discussion for four years. Councillor Morgan believes the deal could finally be signed in the next few weeks.

But yesterday Roger Hinton, chairman of the Regency Society, raised concerns.

He said: “There should have been far more consultation with the public before this stage.

“There are a number of people unhappy with Black Rock.

“It’s not a sensible location for a venue for 10,000 people.”

He asked what the traffic implications would be of getting that number of people to an out-of-town location.

At present business visitors who arrive by train need only walk down West Street to get to the Brighton Centre.

He also asked what impact such a large out-of-town venue would have on heritage architecture in that location, like the Regency houses of Sussex Square and Lewes Crescent, and on the viability of businesses in the city centre who rely on conference visitors.

He said: “We’re not saying it’s a bad idea but they haven’t convinced us it’s a good idea. They say that they’ll consult during planning but in a sense, that’s too late. They won’t be asking people to consider alternatives like a new venue in the centre of the city.

“They’re moving ahead with this work with Standard Life, but they haven’t consulted the people of Brighton.”

The plan could create 2,000 jobs, boost spending by £150 million a year and generate £4.6 million in tax and rates.

A decision on the closure of the Brighton Centre would take place after Black Rock receives planning consent.