IT is an area of undeveloped land that has stood empty for years.

Black Rock in Brighton was once home to an Art Deco lido which was built in 1936 but this was closed in 1978 and demolished in the 1979.

The models pictured here today appear to be proposals for a leisure development and theme park on the site.

The area is served by an extension of the Volk’s Electric Railway, but the line was shortened when the marina and associated coastal defences were built in the early 1970s.

The cliff-top houses were also lost to make way for the marina’s approach roads.

Brighton and Hove City Council still has plans to develop the site with a predominantly leisure use.

There were plans to build a multi-purpose sports arena with adjacent ice rink, but in 2012 the council said the plans were no longer viable.

Now a conference centre is planned for the site, intended as a replacement for the Brighton Centre, which would be sold to the owners of Churchill Square.

Another of our pictures today, left, shows a matchstick model of the Royal Pavilion in Brighton in 1979, and again in about 1983.

The world’s tallest Lego model was once displayed in the Brighton Centre and is pictured here on August 30, 1983.

The Richold Collection of carved wooden models used to be housed on the West Pier and is pictured here in 1968. Also pictured is a showcase of models bought by Brighton Council on display in the British Engineerium, an engineering and steam power museum in Hove.

Do you know any more about any of these photos? If you do, let us know.

To see more of our fantastic pictures from yesteryear go to theargus.co.uk/photoarchive.