A three-star hotel which would stand in the shadow of a planned 42-storey tower could be open by the end of this year.

The 234-bedroom hotel would be up to six storeys tall and form part of a major redevelopment of a 15-acre former railway goods yard near Brighton station, known as the New England Quarter.

Developer Osborn Securities also has plans for a four-storey office block, a public open space and piazza and a landscaped garden. There would be a £25,000 children's play area and £20,000 would be spent on spaces for older children and adults.

The developer is also £40,000 contributing for a bus service in the area and £10,000 would go towards a piece of public art. Nearby, The Level would benefit from £45,000 to be spent on recreational activities.

Brighton and Hove City Council has ordered that bird nesting boxes be built on the site. Any trees or plants which die within five years must be replaced.

The hotel, to be run by Anglo-Irish company Jurys Doyle, would provide a cheaper alternative for business people and tourists to a proposed four-star skyscraper on another section of the site.

Plans for the tower were turned down by Brighton and Hove City Council last December but a public inquiry will be held after developer The Beetham Organisation launched an appeal.

Paul Newman, of Osborn, said there would be no conflict between his hotel and Beetham's because they were targeting different markets.

He said: "Beetham's would be four-star and we are doing three-star. There is a sufficient under-supply of quality three and four-star hotels in Brighton."

Work on a language school to the north of the proposed hotel was due to start early in the new year.

A Sainsbury's supermarket, community centre and 247 homes are also planned for other parts of the site.

A similar application was withdrawn last year amid concerns about the design and height of the building. The new application, recommended for approval, will be considered by planning councillors today.

Wednesday, January 11, 2006