A £30,000 work of art will be created to stand outside a former Butlins hotel which has been converted into luxury flats.

Explore Living has put up the cash after it was given permission to redevelop the Grand Ocean hotel at Saltdean.

Arts bosses at Brighton and Hove City Council are inviting expressions of interest from artists to create the new work.

They say it should reflect the Art Deco building's historic past and its links with the local community.

Rottingdean Coastal ward councillor David Smith called for it to celebrate the fact that it was once a holiday venue.

He said: “It was the Butlins Ocean Hotel when it first started and I would like it to commemorate that and the work of Sir Billy Butlin.

“Some may think it is a lot of money for public art but it has been provided by the developer as part of the project.

“It can only be used for that purpose and if it isn't that money will be lost to us.”

Lucy Rogers, a council arts development officer, said a shortlist of artists will be drawn up after the deadline for expressions of interest expires on November 11.

She added: “We are looking for something that takes the building's Art Deco heritage as its starting point.

“There is also a lot of local connection with the building which was a hotel for a long time.

“Lots of the local residents worked in the hotel and had family that stayed there as well.

“It was one of the planning conditions that the developers put the money up for a work of public art.”

The hotel opened in 1938 and played host to royalty and screen legends including Bette Davis.

It was commandeered to train auxiliary fire fighters during the Second World War and then fell into disrepair.

The building was bought and restored by Billy Butlin in 1953 and his holiday camp empire ran it until the hotel closed in 1972.

It is being converted into 279 luxury and affordable homes and includes a doctors' surgery.

A two-bedroom, two-bathroom show flat at the complex in Longridge Avenue, Saltdean, is currently being marketed for £314,995.

The new artwork will stand outside the entrance to the surgery.

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