A former children's day care centre could be demolished to make way for flats.

The Children's Society, which owns the centre in Wellington Road, Brighton, wants to sell the site to developers if permission is granted to knock down the building and build 15 flats. The charity submitted an outline planning application to Brighton and Hove City Council in February.

The design, size of the flats and number of parking spaces would be finalised in a full planning application.

The planning statement, submitted by agent Cluttons, said the building has fallen into disrepair in recent years and would require "considerable investment to bring it up to a compliant standard".

The two services once housed in the building have already been relocated.

Portage, a service for children under five with learning difficulties, has moved to Harmsworth Crescent in Hove, and the Participation, advocacy and rights service, (Par) which offers advice and support to children and teenagers in West Sussex, has moved to Littlehampton.

A charity spokeswoman said: "The building was not really suitable for our use. It was too big and uneconomical. It was really quite expensive to heat and keep.