Boxer Chris Eubank's plans to demolish his houses and replace them with flats could finally be dealt a knockout blow by councillors.

Various changes have been made to the scheme for the properties in The Upper Drive, Hove, in the latest round of the planning row.

But alterations to the size and style of the proposed development have failed to win over planning officers at Brighton and Hove City Council, who are recommending councillors reject the scheme.

Neighbours in The Upper Drive thought they had seen off the plans last year but Hove-based developer Birch Restorations resubmitted the design.

It still involves demolishing the two £2 million detached properties.

Eubank lives in one of them with wife Karron and their four children and uses the other, neighbouring house as a gym.

The plans are for four blocks of 25 privately-owned flats and another block with 16 affordable homes.

There have been more than 40 objections and two petitions have been signed by 59 people.

Planning officer Paul Earp said: "The proposal has been amended several times to reduce the height and bulk of the development, produce a more contemporary design and reduce the impact on the occupiers of neighbouring properties by limiting access from The Upper Drive only.

"Despite these amendments, it is still considered the proposal is an overdevelopment of the site, would be out of character with the area and detrimental to residential amenity."

Neighbours said the flats would not fit in with the road, which was made up of medium and large family houses.

They did not like the design, felt the scheme was too big and were worried about traffic.

The city's architects' panel also recommended the scheme should be refused, saying it was much too big.

Mr Earp said a contemporary design could make a positive contribution to the area rather than a "bland infill".

Brighton and Hove planning committee meets on Wednesday.