A council and developers have been accused of "bulldozing" ahead with plans for luxury flats on Worthing's Warnes Hotel site.

The seafront site has been an eyesore since the building was gutted by fire 14 years ago and is now the subject of a public inquiry.

Worthing Council rejected an application by Worthing-based Roffey Homes to build 72 luxury art deco-style flats, saying the development was too big.

Roffey Homes has threatened to pull out if it is told to build affordable flats to sell to housing associations alongside the luxury block.

They want to build nine units of affordable housing in Worthing High Street instead.

If the inquiry agrees to let the developers and council provide social housing off-site, Roffey would provide facilities for the town worth around £500,000.

They would include improvements in York Road, a £65,000 contribution to borough and seafront initiatives and a safer pedestrian crossing in Steyne Gardens.

Robin King, a legal consultant to the Worthing Society civic group, said: "The planning gains the council are set to make would be about £750,000, including the value of the land.

"I believe if you take into account the urgency of the development and also the statutory need for affordable housing there is an almost indecent haste.

"It may be that planning issues are being compromised by an urgency to bulldoze this ahead."

James Appleton, the council's development control manager, said: "This package of initiatives and improvements would be worth under £500,000 including the proposed site for the affordable flats on the High Street.

"It has been negotiated for two years to try to find an acceptable scheme so the idea of it being rushed ahead is completely false."

A decision on the plan is expected by Christmas.