PLANS to build 60 luxury flats on the site of a former hotel which has been vacant for a decade have been kicked into the long grass.

Proposals for the former Sackville Hotel site in Kingsway, Hove, ran into trouble at the planning committee and were deferred.

Councillors were unhappy with the proposals, agreed after discussion between developers Hyde and council valuation experts, which said that just five of the units in the eight-storey building should be affordable lets.

The decision was deferred in the hope the issue can be resolved.

Last week The Argus reported council officers had recommended for approval the plans for an eight-storey residential development.

A spokesperson for Hyde said: “Further to the deferral of the application at today’s planning committee, we will be discussing Member’s comments with officers, who had formally recommended approval of the application in its current form, to seek to bring forward development of this long term derelict site.”