Most people concerned about the impact of proposed buildings on the landscape merely lodge formal objections.

But Jane Wood was so incensed by plans to treble the size of a kiosk on East Beach, in Littlehampton, she went out and bought the building.

She has now commissioned renowned designer Thomas Heatherwick to create a landmark beach cafe encased in a steel shell to replace the existing kiosk and shelter on the promenade.

The design for the 60-seat single-storey East Beach Cafe's shell resembles a large piece of driftwood, swept up on to the beach, although there will be a large glass front giving stunning sea views.

Mr Heatherwick, best known for his B Of The Bang sculpture outside the City of Manchester Stadium, offered to design the cafe for Mrs Wood after they met at a birthday party at Goodwood Sculpture Park.

Miss Wood, of South Terrace, said: "My house looked out on to East Beach. I felt I had to save this very special place and so I did a crazy thing and bought the business.

"Thomas's design will enhance the view and help to regenerate Littlehampton, which is a wonderfully unspoilt English seaside town. It's an iconic building and will hopefully encourage more visitors to Littlehampton."

Mr Heatherwick said he was looking forward to the project as his studio had never built anything like a seaside cafe before.

He said: "The seaside at Littlehampton has a raw beauty. Rather than make something very swanky and shiny, we decided to make something that almost looks like it's from the sea.

"Our challenge is to build a functional and durable structure on a tight budget, where you can eat Mr Whippy or drink Dom Perignon."

East Beach Residents' Association and Littlehampton Civic Society both objected to the earlier plans for the kiosk but have backed the new scheme.

Arun District Council is expected to take a decision by the end of the year.

Angela Bayley, treasurer at Littlehampton Society, said: "The eyesore that Arun had allowed would have ruined that section of the seafront but the curved structure of the new design is very pleasing on the eye."

John Coombes, secretary of East Beach Residents' Association, said more than 300 people objected against Arun District Council's decision to approve the bland restaurant of the previous application.

He said: "Our views were totally ignored. Now a saviour in shining armour in the form of Jane Wood has come along and commissioned Thomas Heatherwick to design this world-class building.

"Let's hope that the Arun planners can now raise their standards and give approval for the new building, which will raise the profile of the whole of Littlehampton."

October 6 2005