CAMPAIGNERS against high rises will try to convince councillors not to approve plans for another tower block tomorrow.

Withdean Commercial Property’s plan to build 894sqm of office space on the ground floor and 52 flats on the site of the former Hyde offices in Davigdor Road, Hove, has been recommended for approval by officers.

The developer is working with Hove-based Imex Exhibitions, which says it has outgrown its Ellen Street offices and wants to build new offices, a basement car park and 52 flats on the old Hyde site.

The final decision lies with the city council’s planning committee. Members of the Hove Gold action group, formed in response to this and other high-rise developments in the area, spoke at March’s committee against plans for 152 flats in four blocks for the neighbouring Peacock Industrial Estate in Lyon Close. These were approved.

The group is also concerned about yet more plans for blocks of 80 flats and a hotel at the corner of Cromwell Road and Palmeira Avenue which have yet to be decided.

The plan includes 22 one-bedroom,  27 two-bedroom and three three-bedroom flats in a part five-storey, part eight-storey block.

Twenty one parking spaces are planned for the site, with nine serving the offices and the other 12 for the two and three-bedroomed flat owners.

Ninety cycle parking spaces are also planned.

The application has 49 objections and 17 letters of support on Brighton and Hove City Council’s website.

One commenter said: “It is an utter disgrace if you allow the over development of this site. The Artisan [a neighbouring housing development] is a blot on the landscape and still empty.

“There has been no REAL employment created to replace the loss of jobs from Hyde Housing from the Happy Cell and later Graham Plumbing Trade Point and Howdens.

“We can’t park we can’t get doctors’ appointments. Or dentists. The traffic will be horrendous. Don’t destroy this area any further.”

Goldsmid ward Labour councillor Jackie O’Quinn has objected, questioning the shortage of office space in the area by pointing out the Dubarry Perfume factory could not rent out its office space and the neighbouring P&H office block sits empty.

She also questioned the affordability of the homes as the developer has not complied with the council’s policy for 40 per cent affordable homes in larger developments. She said: “The flats are likely to be very expensive, and even at 80 per cent of cost they would not be affordable to the majority.”