Conservation experts have criticised plans to demolish a former children's centre and sell the land to developers.

Dr Kathryn Ferry, of the Victorian Society, is urging Brighton and Hove City Council to make the detached house in Wellington Road, Brighton, a listed building and said it should not be knocked down "just because it's old".

The society was contacted by worried residents who fear ripping down the building and replacing it with flats would ruin the area's character.

The Children's Society, which owns the building, wants to sell it to developers if it gets permission to build 15 flats on the site.

Dr Ferry said: "We've got to stop knocking buildings down just because they're old."

"Wellington Road is a good quality building which could be adapted for multiple occupancy. Applications like this are eroding the character of towns across the country."

She said the house was particularly notable for its Doric porch, cornices and distinctive window surrounds.

The now empty building, believed to date from the 1840s, once housed services for children with learning difficulties and the participation, advocacy and rights service, which offers advice and support to children and teenagers in West Sussex.

Both have found new homes. The scheme is one of a spate of similar applications involving the loss of large detached homes which have sparked anger.

Writer Julie Burchill was one of several residents who controversially sold their houses in Somerhill Avenue and Somerhill Road, Hove, to developers for a six-figure sum in 2004.

In October 2004 residents took their battle to stop a twostorey house in Withdean Avenue, Brighton, being ripped down and replaced with eight flats to the High Court.

Anne Morgan, the Victorian Society's community engagement officer, said the latest application was typical of a growing national problem. She said: "These old, large, detached houses are prime sites for developers because they have got big gardens and are very desirable.

"There is pressure on councils to increase the density of housing and promote new development so sometimes it's very difficult for them to refuse applications which could damage the local area.

"This building has such a distinctive character and really contributes to the streetscape.

"The proposed flats would be very inferior."

The Victorian Society has written to the council objecting to the application, which will be considered on May 17.

The Children's Society was unavailable for comment.