City business leaders have been told downsizing could be the way forward for future conferences.

Even the major political parties are thinking of reducing the size of their conferences when they go to the seaside each autumn, according to Simon Fanshawe, who chairs the Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership.

He said: "Michael Howard may slim down the Tory conference as he has the shadow Cabinet. Big conferences may be a thing of the past."

The Brighton Centre, built in 1977, can hold conferences for up to 5,000 people. The outdated building will be pulled down by Brighton and Hove City Council at the end of 2005.

Mr Fanshawe told Brighton and Hove Chamber of Commerce its replacement would be a radically different building, seating perhaps only 1,500 to 1,800 people.

The few conferences bigger than that could be catered for at the new ice arena likely to be built at Black Rock.

Mr Fanshawe said the new Brighton Centre would be much more flexible than the present buildings.

Talks were continuing between the council and other landowners to decide exactly what should be built at the prime city centre site and how big the new development should be.

They would have to agree on exactly what else should be provided at the site and whether it would be used for leisure, retail or exhibition space.

Mr Fanshawe said the council at present spent about £1 million a year on attracting conventions to the city but was unlikely to continue spending at that rate in the future.

Tuesday November 18, 2003