Five houses are set to built on a former windmill site once painted by Constable.

Vine's Windmill was at the top of Clifton Hill in Brighton until the mid-1800s and was the subject of four works by the great painter, including The Gleanings and A Windmill Near Brighton, which is on show at Tate Britain in London.

The small site has not been built on since, although it was concreted over to become a car park for the Royal Alexandra Children's Hospital in Dyke Road.

But Hove-based 3rd Avenue Developments have applied to build five three-storey homes with parking.

Planners at Brighton and Hove City Council have recommended that the scheme is given planning permission if 22 conditions are met.

Residents and history societies have objected to the plans, and archaeologists have called for access to the site while work is carried out.

The Georgian Group and the Victorian Society have criticised the design of the scheme and called for it to be rejected.

Concern has also been raised about the impact of the development on the next-door Grade II listed coach house.

Roger Amerena, chairman of Montpelier and Clifton Hill Association, said the group had raised money to buy and restore the building last year.

The car park site is opposite the former Royal Alexandra hospital for children which is also planned for a major redevelopment and will be discussed at the same meeting.

Mr Amerena said: "We are not against development on the car park but what is presented is far too greedy for the site.

"With the Royal Alexendra development, the whole townscape will be changed.

"It will tower next to the Grade II listed coach house."

He is calling for the number of homes to be reduced from five to four or three.

There are also concerns about the ancient trees protected by preservation orders which are on the site.

In a submission to the council, Brighton and Hove Archaeological Society wrote: "The development is in an area, where historically an ancient windmill is meant to have been located.

"The Brighton and Hove Archaeological Society would recommend that the granting of any planning application include a provision for a watching brief while the top levels are removed and while any footing trenches are cut."

David Dalton, 3rd Avenue Developments, said: "We have worked very hard on the development for the last year and a half and this is the second proposal.

"We have been working hand in hand with the officers at Brighton and Hove City Council and we are pleased that we have the support of officers and hopefully the members will recommend the application accordingly."

Members of the planning committee will vote on whether to give the proposal permission at a meeting on Wednesday.

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