Plans to convert offices into flats have been refused.

A proposal was submitted last year to turn an office building in Carlton Terrace, Portslade, into seven flats, which would have mainly been one-bed properties.

The plans also included altering the roof space to create a three-bedroom flat in the loft.

The agent acting on behalf of the applicant, Clive Hawkins Architects Ltd, argued in the proposals that the building "was not designed as an office and cannot be brought up to modern standards from the point of view of modern office use".

They also said that the layout of the building was not appropriate for employees with "sight or physical limitations", and that the space is "more suitable for residential use".

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However, Brighton and Hove City Council, who rejected the plans, has now said that they "failed to demonstrate that the existing office use is genuinely redundant and incapable of meeting the needs of alternative employment uses."

The council also said that adjusting the property to make space for a three-bed flat in the loft area would "negatively" impact the appearance of the building, and that this flat would be "too small".

A spokesman for Brighton and Hove City Council said: "The proposed loft space dwelling would not comply with the nationally described space standards due to its limited internal area.

"Moreover, occupiers of this three-bedroom dwelling would have no access to private outdoor amenity space.

"This flat would therefore fail to provide an acceptable standard of accommodation for future occupiers."

The plans were officially rejected on Tuesday.