Plans for a tower that would dwarf the tallest building in Sussex have been formally submitted to Brighton and Hove City Council.

The Beetham Organisation wants to build a 403ft-tall hotel and homes complex at the New England Quarter, near Brighton station.

The 42-storey building, which would be visible for 20 miles, would tower above Sussex Heights in Brighton's Regency Square, the county's tallest building at 330ft.

It would even be a match for the 420ft, 40-storey tower planned for Brighton Marina.

A public consultation lasting at least 16 weeks is now under way but developers say they have already received a postbag of comments from neighbours.

They are advising anyone who would like to contribute to the consultation to contact the company through the web site www.newenglandsquare.co.uk Beetham's plans include a 200-room, four-star Radisson SAS hotel, 171 city centre homes and a sky garden cafe. The hotel would take up the lower part of the development while the tower itself would be made up of flats, some of which would be affordable homes for key public sector workers.

The development would also feature conference facilities, a health and fitness centre, shops and parking.

It would be the centrepiece of the redevelopment of the 15-acre former railway goods yard, which began decades ago.

Beetham's tower scheme has been designed by architects Allies and Morrison, which was responsible for the BBC Media Village at White City, London, and is working on projects including the Royal Festival Hall and the London Olympic bid.

A decision on Beetham's application is not expected until the middle of the year at the earliest, with a potential construction start date of mid-2006. The landmark building could be opened by late 2007.

Beetham chairman Hugh Frost predicted the tower's contribution to Brighton's future heritage will be just as significant as that of the Royal Pavilion.

Friday January 28, 2005