Campaigners celebrated on Saturday after councillors threw out the planning application for 420ft skyscraper.

The tower, dubbed the Roaring Forties, was to be the centrepiece of a £265 million development dominating Brighton Marina and would have been the tallest building in Sussex.

But Brighton and Hove City Council's planning committee agreed on Friday the development, which would have included ten smaller buildings, would be too big, generate too much traffic and turn the marina into "Croydon-by-Sea".

The decision will come as a shock to the applicants, Brunswick Developments, because the plan was recommended for approval by the council's planning officials.

Peter Martin, deputy chairman of the Brighton Marina Residents' Association, told The Argus the decision was a victory for common sense.

He said: "The marina should not be a housing estate and the developers have completely misjudged what is appropriate for the future of Brighton Marina."

Brunswick wanted to build 998 flats, of which 395 were earmarked for low-cost housing. Private flats were to cost between £200,000 and £2 million.

The 11 buildings would have sat next to the West Quay on a platform over the sea a quarter of a mile from the cliff.

A swing bridge would have allowed people to walk or cycle all the way round the marina for the first time, while a smaller bridge across Black Rock beach would have given easier access.

Campaigners have strongly opposed the scheme and held a demonstration before the meeting.

They maintain the Brighton Marina Act 1968 dictates nothing can be built taller than the height of the cliff.

Although there is a section which allows the council to vary the act's terms, campaigners uncovered transcripts of parliamentary debates suggesting the clause was only ever intended to allow the council to permit the construction of basic features, such as lamp posts.

Dr Wendy Le-Las, a former planning inspector, spoke on behalf of the campaigners.

She said: "The point of the marina was boats, not houses.

"Now we learn 80 berths could be lost. Will you concrete over the marina and leave a few puddles in order to justify it being called a marina?"

Council officers ruled the Act was not a material planning consideration and that the Town and Country Planning Act 1962 prevailed over the Marina Act.

Despite this, councillors agreed by nine votes to three to reject the application at Hove Town Hall on Friday night.

Councillor Francis Tonks said: "Basically this tower is a skyscraper.

We are not Hong Kong. We don't want a Croydon-on-Sea."

Councillor Linda Hyde said: "This development would set a precedent. X-leisure and Asda are already interested in putting in applications for tower blocks at the marina."

Brunswick Developments said it was disappointed with the decision and would appeal.