King Alfred to go ahead with no changes

This is despite an eleventh hour agreement two weeks ago that alternative plans for Frank Gehry's Hove towers should be investigated.

Brighton and Hove City Council leader Simon Burgess admitted last night the last-minute compromise proposed by the Green Party did not require the scheme to be renegotiated.

The amendment asked the council to work with developer Karis to look at alternative sites for a "meaningful proportion" of the new homes.

But earlier this week the developer submitted a planning application for all 751 flats on the original site.

Coun Burgess told a meeting of the city council last night all parties were aware at the time of the decision no changes were required but added that attempts would be made to find another location for some of the homes.

He said: "The policy and resources committee did not turn the clock back and require a reduced number of housing units on-site or provision of affordable housing off-site.

"The reality is that the developers will go ahead with the planning permission as it is. There is nothing to be negotiated because they have been given the full permission to go ahead to planning."

Green councillor Keith Taylor said he would fight for changes to the plans. He said: "The stark reality is that the project will fail to get planning permission without a significant reduction in its impact.

"I am disappointed at the state of play but nevertheless remain determined to deliver a solution that the majority of the city residents want to see.

"That is a leisure centre and 270 affordable housing units without ruining the Hove seafront."

Councillor Brian Oxley, leader of the Conservative group which rejected the amendment, said he would set out his concerns in an email to the chief executive on Monday.

He said: "We warned the committee the motion was toothless.

"We need to put measures in place to ensure the feelings expressed in the meeting are followed up with concrete actions."