Developers behind a £30 million regeneration project have promised it will get built - if planners give it the go-ahead.

London-based Square Bay is behind proposals to create housing, offices, shops and a hotel on the Block J site at Brighton's New England Quarter.

It is believed the scheme, described as the “last piece of the jigsaw” in the key city centre regeneration project, will create hundreds of construction and commercial jobs.

As the firm resubmitted proposals for the development, its director told The Argus he hopes the plans will be approved by the end of the year.

Markham Hanson, director of Square Bay, said: “The process has been a bit longer than we expected but obviously we are totally committed to it.

“All the finance is in place and we're confident it will get built.

“We have been working with a difficult market, but providing we get the support of the planning committee, for Brighton there will be a lot of jobs created while finishing the New England Quarter.”

The area, known as New England Square, has remained a derelict site since the collapse of plans to build a 42-storey tower block in 2007.

Square Bay first unveiled “sustainable eco-friendly” proposals for the site in November before submitting a planning application in December.

The blueprint is for 147 flats and about 3,000sqm of commercial units with a 94-bedroom hotel.

A public square, which could be used for performing arts, a children's playground and highways linking Brighton railway station with surrounding areas are also key parts of the proposal.

The tallest building will be eight storeys high.

A three-week consultation will now begin to gather feeling about the plans.

It is hoped the proposal is brought before Brighton and Hove City Council's planning committee on September 21.

Mr Hanson added: “There are no major changes to the scheme.

“We have had a good response generally and I think we have had nine objections in total.

“But the local authority feels it is important that we consult widely about the whole scheme again before it goes before the committee.”

The brownfield site is currently partly used as an auxiliary car park for commuters.

Council chiefs and housing bosses recently visited the plot on a tour to look at ways of solving the city's housing shortage.

Do you support the scheme? Tell us at theargus.co.uk/news, write to our letters page or email letters@theargus.co.uk