According to its web site, Exion 27 is a "striking new hi-tech building designed to exacting standards to meet the needs of the modern business occupier".

The problem is, the 28,000sqft unit in Crowhurst Road, Hollingbury, Brighton, is empty, and has been since it was built in 2001.

In contrast, work has begun on another business centre 200 yards away called Crowhurst Corner, which is offering 30,000sqft of industrial office units.

Wholesalers at the fruit, vegetable and flower market in Circus Street, Brighton, have already agreed to move in and talks are taking place with other possible tenants.

Exion's problems spring from a clause in the original planning consent which says office space on the upper floors has to be linked to the industries operating below. Developer Albermarle Securities had hoped the building would appeal to modern industries but a downturn in the sector over the last few years has left it empty.

Business leaders said Exion 27 highlighted the failure of the planning system to adapt to shifting economic conditions and have called for greater flexibility.

But the future now looks brighter for Exion 27 because its owners look like getting the go-ahead for the troublesome clause to be dropped.

Tim Hardwicke, of managing agents Stiles Harold Williams, said: "An application has been submitted to widen the user clause because the original one imposed by the council was quite restrictive.

"If it is approved we will be able to market the building more widely, which should make it a lot easier for us to fill it. We are talking with two potential users who are adding up their figures, so things are looking up. We are more confident of filling it now."

Andy Glover, economic development officer at Brighton and Hove City Council, said: "We fully support this application because it will hopefully fill a flagship building which has so far remained empty."

Last year, the Brighton and Hove Economic Partnership held one of its meetings in the building to highlight the problem of inflexibility in the planning system.

Executive director Tony Mernagh said the group broadly welcomed Government plans to change the planning system which would allow individual sites to be judged on their own merits.

Tuesday August 24, 2004