D-Day for city

That is the assessment of Brighton and Hove business leaders on the day councillors vote on the development planned for Hove seafront.

Some of the leading names in business in the city have written to councillors expressing their fears for the future of Brighton and Hove if Gehry's latest plans do not win approval.

Among those to sign the letter from Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership are Roger French, managing director of Brighton Bus and Coach Company, Christine D'Cruz, director of commerce at EDF Energy, and Mark Beacham, regional operations manager for National Car Parks.

The letter was sent on behalf of the hundreds of city businesses and traders in the partnership.

Leaders believe a vote against the scheme could spell the end of future projects, including the planned new Brighton Centre, and leave the city's business reputation in tatters.

They believe backing such schemes is crucial to luring investors to the city.

However, The Argus reported on Tuesday how two party leaders said the plans should be thrown out.

Keith Taylor, leader of the Green Party on Brighton and Hove City Council, said the council had never agreed to consider more than 400 homes and Brian Oxley, leader of the Conservatives, said he thought it was about time councillors considered building the homes elsewhere.

The decision is in the hands of a handful of councillors, who had not made up their minds when The Argus contacted them yesterday.

Seven of the 15 councillors said they were going to vote in favour, three councillors came out against the scheme, three were undecided and two were unavailable for comment.

But the business leaders are urging the scheme's opponents to think again and hope those as yet un-decided will come out in favour of the plans today.

Mr French said the scheme was vital to the city's prosperity. He said the development would not only provide much-needed housing for his employees but would also encourage trade.

He said: "We are continually finding our key workers, cleaners and drivers, are having to travel further and further away.

"It's a complete travesty that this development could be in jeopardy.

"It is vital to the prosperity of the businesses of central Hove, particularly smaller traders, who depend on the King Alfred being redeveloped.

"To think the proposal could fail at this late stage is beyond belief."

This is the third time developer Karis has put plans for the seafront development before the policy and resources committee.

The most recent proposals were rejected by councillors and by Government architectural advisers the Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (CABE) and English Heritage.

But Simon Burgess, council leader, said he was satisfied the new version, which will be presented to the committee this afternoon, would be supported by the Government agencies.

And he has pleaded with Liberal Democrat and Green councillors - whose precious votes could determine the project's future - not to vote against it.

Coun Burgess said: "Karis have invested huge amounts on this scheme but they won't want to throw good money after bad.

"When investors put that kind of money into something and it goes wrong, how can we expect them to consider the Brighton Centre?

"It's not that we're dancing to a business tune but we ignore their concerns at our peril. They can see the advantages of this scheme and are taken aback by some councillors' opinions - they can't understand it."

The committee must give its consent on behalf of the council as landowners before the developer can move on to the planning stage.

The project's costs will then be discussed in the second part of the meeting behind closed doors.

It is thought that so far Karis has spent about £10 million on the plans.

There are fears among some councillors that if they pull the plug on the project the council could be liable for those costs.

And some are even wondering how long major employers such as American Express will stay if such development commitments are broken. Coun Burgess said: "I'm getting very clear messages that if we don't get the vote, it will make it really hard to get the financial support we need for the Brighton Centre.

"Investors will think we have no overall control and we may not be able to get these things through.

"So I'm desperately hoping that those who are saying they are against will look at the bigger picture and vote for the confidence of the city."

With six Conservatives on the committee likely to vote against the development and six Labour councillors voting for it, the deciding votes will be left to just two Green and one Liberal Democrat councillor.

Coun Taylor told The Argus on Tuesday he might vote against the development due to the sheer scale of the plans.

Karis needs to build more than 750 homes on the site to make the project financially viable. The initial brief called for between 300 and 400 units.

Business leaders point out that a year ago, Coun Taylor supported the development and said it was "one to be proud of and one that would enhance the city". Coun Taylor said he changed his vote following objections from English Heritage and CABE.

He added: "I'm one of 15 and it's the majority of the committee that makes the decision - that's democracy.

"A year ago I was told specifically by council officers that I couldn't challenge the 750 units. I think I've been stitched up because I remember being told I could not raise the issue and instead we secured extra benefits for transport along the seafront.

"Obviously the job of the council is to co-ordinate city life in a sustainable way. It's not simply about growth at any cost.

"The real question is about the nature of the development. We can't run a city with a cheque book to our head. There has to be a quality of life.

"We've heard all this scare talk from the business community before. We were told that without a park-and-ride on the South Downs the city would grind to a halt.

"The business community should take it on board that the King Alfred needs to complement and not dominate the community centre it will replace.

"If the council is going to make a mistake, I'd rather we made it on paper than with bricks and mortar."

Even if the King Alfred development is pivotal to the city's financial future, as business leaders suggest, it is still not popular with voters in Hove.

The site falls within Brunswick and Adelaide ward, whose representative Paul Elgood has given his vote to fellow Liberal Democrat Dawn Davidson.

Party leader David Watkins said Coun Davidson would be voting in favour of the plans.

Meanwhile Conservative councillors have been accused of playing party politics with the votes in the hope of winning next year's election.

Tory councillor Brian Oxley said he would be voting against the redevelopment.

He said: "The review was an opportunity for developers to come forward with a proposal people could rally around. They have just made the towers taller and reduced the height of the surrounding buildings.

"There are still a number of issues that haven't been resolved. It is too dense and out of keeping with the surrounding area.

"There's no evidence I have seen that suggests inward investment would be deterred if we don't vote for the King Alfred.

"If the King Alfred development has to be funded by housing then put the housing elsewhere.

"There is no argument a sports centre is needed. We need to find a way forward that is acceptable to all the parties.

"It is time the council's Labour administration allowed other ideas to come forward."

But members of the city's economic partnership said the King Alfred scheme was crucial to the future of the city.

Paul Bonnett, of Bonnett's estate agents and chairman of Brighton and Hove Estate Agents' Association, said: "I feel this is an opportunity not to be missed. Although I'm not always in favour of development in the city, I feel this, because of the housing for key workers and community sports centre, is going to be a great benefit for Brighton and Hove.

"Two years ago I wasn't in favour. I have been thinking about it more and more and I think it's in the best interest of the city.

"One of the problems in Brighton and Hove is we're so much caught in the past in terms of architecture. We have got to move forward.

"If this development doesn't get the go-ahead, the other people planning on investing in the city will think twice."

Colin Monk, pro-vice-chancellor of business and marketing at the University of Brighton, said: "You can approach this issue on two levels: what will it mean to the immediate neighbourhood, and this is important because we are a compressed city, and where is Brighton going as a city?

"We felt the proposal was to set a beacon, which would lead to local jobs and send a clear message to people considering development issues in the town.

"It is important to send the message that Brighton is prepared to take steps to be innovative.

"If the redevelopment isn't given the go-ahead, it will send a message outside the city that Brighton is becoming more inward looking, when its history and success is built on being more outward looking. It would be negative for the city."

Trevor Freeman, of accountants TR Freeman and Co, said: "I was devastated when I understood the scheme might not go through.

"We desperately need the jobs, investment and facilities."

Simon Beales, who co-runs fashion label Simultane, said: "We're the only city in the country which could potentially have a Frank Gehry building. From a commercial point of view it would bring investment and income into this area of Hove.

"Where are the interesting landmarks and interesting architecture of the last 30 years? Other cities have managed it but we don't seem capable.

"It would be a slap in the face if this doesn't get the go-ahead. I understand from the local point of view it's a real concern and I wouldn't want to offend them but this development is a positive thing."

Click here to read the business leaders' letter