The death knell may have finally sounded for an old mental hospital.

Brighton and Hove City Councillors yesterday rejected plans to turn the Victorian Westbourne Hospital in New Church Road, Hove, into a block of flats.

But they voted to allow the demolition of the building in the future, if an acceptable scheme is put forward.

Downland Housing Association wanted to turn the site into four blocks ranging between three and six storeys high, containing a total of 23 flats. There would have been short-term accommodation and accommodation for people with learning disabilities.

But members of the city's planning sub-committee said the plans were out of keeping with the area, would be detrimental to a conservation area and were not to a high design standard.

Christopher Hawtree, of Westbourne Gardens, spoke against the planning application. He said after the decision: "I am not opposed to a building even as fine as that being knocked down.

"You can imagine something good, but it has to be really good.

"This was a mediocre design. You can see that somewhere like Guildford or Woking."

Tories argued to keep the old building but members of the Labour group said it would never be suitable to accommodate people with health needs.

Green councillor Sue Paskins said: "Sometimes buildings do have to come down and maybe this is a time when they do, but not for the buildings that are suggested to replace it."