What a difference three months can make.

In June, developers behind the King Alfred scheme, a £220 million development on Hove seafront, were accused of departing from guidelines and failing to provide sufficient information about their designs.

Now the same Brighton and Hove City Council project managers who gave that verdict have praised the scheme and consider it viable and largely compliant.

Their report into the Frank Gehry-designed sports and homes complex will form the basis of Monday's key debate when councillors vote on whether to allow the proposals to proceed to the planning stage or to send them back to the drawing board.

The report said: "The scheme does achieve a high level of compliance and there are now only a small number of areas where the scheme does not comply and a reduced number where clarification or further work is required to make them fully comply."

The main area of non-compliance is the size of the leisure pool, which Karis originally agreed to build with a water area of 300sqm. In June, councillors refused to agree to a reduction to 200sqm.

Last month HOK Sport, which has led the design of the leisure centre, told The Argus the pool would be increased to 265sqm. But under the latest proposals the pool will have a water area of just 250sqm, which the council officers believe is acceptable.

The report said: "There have been very practical and physical constraints on the overall space available for the construction of the leisure pool resulting in the current design configuration of the sports centre."

It points out the total water surface in the proposed scheme, including the 200sqm teaching pool and the 440sqm competition pool, is 31 per cent greater than the existing provision in the King Alfred centre, which was built in the Thirties.

In addition, the main sports hall offers 80 per cent more space than the existing one and the proposed health and fitness facility, split over two floors, offers five times more space. The health suite alone would comprise four consultation rooms, a spa bath, steam room, sauna, hydrotherapy pool and workout studio.

The report reveals the council is still negotiating with the developer over a range of details about the leisure centre. These include design of the reception and wet changing room, required staffing regime for pools, size and design of the kitchen, access to the building and coach drop-off points.

It said: "The fine detail of all of these need to be worked through to ensure that the building is capable of smooth and practical operation."

Overall the report, while insisting the proposed design must not be compromised, is enthusiastic about the sports centre.

It said: "The scheme promises a number of exceptional design features and an overall standard of design which will create an enjoyable and memorable visit."

The new King Alfred would feature a significant public area including two large piazzas to the west and east of the site. Both would have direct access and views to and from the seafront. A large outside entrance and gathering area for visitors to the sports centre is provided to the front of the sports centre in Kingsway and a stepped access to both piazzas could act as a seating, congregation and performance area.

Artist Antony Gormley would be asked to create a piece of art for the public space.

The report said: "The work of Antony Gormley is almost always symbolised by his desire to work with local people and, therefore, there is every reason to have confidence that this part of the public realm will be developed sympathetically and also will work within the rest of it."

The most controversial aspect of the development, 754 flats, would be built in two towers about 75m and 60m high, surrounded by eight lower blocks of up to 11 storeys.

Of these, 474 would be sold on the private market and 280, or 37 per cent, would be affordable a mix of rented and shared ownership.

The number of units has risen steadily as the design process has progressed. The original planning brief for the site envisaged it would have up to 400 flats. This increased to 438 in Karis's original competition scheme and again to 590, agreed in principle last year, to 750 in June to the current 754.

Karis has said the homes, which include a handful of penthouse suites valued at £3 million each, are required to make the scheme profitable. In return, it would deliver a £48 million leisure centre to the community free of charge.

Despite critics' complaints about the scale of the buildings, the council's project team has concluded they would not spoil the surrounding area.

The report said: "The massing of the complex is coherent and to a scale comparable with the surrounding development. The residential accommodation will be taller and bulkier than the adjacent, predominantly 19th Century, housing but this is consistent with the location on the seafront.

"The submitted scheme is of special architectural interest and, when fully developed to Stage D, would be expected to be of high quality both in design and building terms. The street elevations are of considerable interest and when fully detailed should make a substantial, positive contribution to the character and appearance of the Kingsway."

The scheme has also won praise from the council for its green credentials.

In particular the developer has been complimented on its water management, use of biodiesel, solar-powered street lighting and reduction in carbon emissions.

But its initial proposal to generate 15 per cent of the scheme's total energy from renewable sources has been reduced to five per cent in the latest plans.

Councillors will be asked to judge whether the latest stage of the development, known as StageC+/D Design, complies with the design briefs attached to the legal agreement between the council and developer.

Their consent as landowner of the Kingsway site is required before a planning application can be submitted. If councillors give their approval on Monday, Karis intends to submit its planning application to the council the following day.

If planning permission is granted, the developer hopes to start work in January 2007 with a completion date of January 2010 for the sports centre and January 2012 for the rest.

The Argus understands that with six Labour members and one Green planning to vote for the scheme and six Conservatives and a Liberal Democrat expected to vote against, the fate of the project could be in the hands of a single undecided councillor Green Party convenor Keith Taylor.

Coun Taylor said yesterday he had still not made up his mind and was studying the details of the council officers' report.

If councillors reject the proposals they must provide reasons with full details of any changes required. The developer would then have the opportunity to resubmit revised proposals or appeal. It is unknown whether Frank Gehry, HOK Sport and Dutch bank ING, which have already invested two and a half years and millions of pounds in the scheme, would stay around if this happened.

Josh Arghiros, Karis managing director, said yesterday: "Karis and ING are delighted Frank Gehry has finalised his stunning designs for the King Alfred. The council's report reinforces the fact we have met and exceeded the council's brief.

"We hope the policy and resources meeting on September 12 will mandate the project board's recommendations and allow us to submit the planning application.

"We look forward to unveiling the finalised plans to the public on September 13 at an exhibition of the proposals to be held at Brighton Jubilee Library."