Many people thought the historic West Pier in Brighton had been saved when the National Lottery promised one of its largest grants of almost £14 million.

But the ailing pier's problems were only just beginning. It has become plain that more than lottery cash is needed to stop it from sliding into the sea.

The city council, English Heritage, the Brighton West Pier Trust and developers St Modwen are all adamant that two large new buildings are needed at the shore end to make restoration viable.

Opponents of these buildings want the pier to be restored but not at any price.They say the new buildings will set a precedent for future development along the seafront.

There's little doubt that the pier supporters are right that large new buildings are needed by the shore.

If the West Pier is revived to its Twenties' heyday, it won't contain the money-making rides that currently spoil the appearance of the Palace Pier.

The crucial question is what form these buildings should take. Those being unveiled by the developers today show a considerable amount of building above the level of King's Road.

Even though they have been amended to take account of objections, they still represent a great change in the area around what is a Grade I listed building.

Another architect has shown it is possible to tuck all the buildings below the level of King's Road.

Planners will want to save the pier but the issue before them will be the appearance of these new buildings. At the very least their message to the architects is likely to be that they could do better.