An eleventh hour agreement by councillors to save architect Frank Gehry's £290m seafront towers has been ignored by developer Karis.

The agreement for the King Alfred development in Hove, cobbled together at Brighton and Hove City Council's policy and resources committee two weeks ago, suggested alternative sites be found for some of the housing.

But Karis has been accused of making "a mockery" of the decision by submittting a planning application for all 751 homes on the original site.

City council chief executive Alan McCarthy said the council was still committed to working with Karis to find a suitable location for some of the homes. Josh Arghiros, managing director of the firm, said although the application made no mention of the council's desire to relocate homes he would consider alternative sites - if they "were worthwhile".

Keith Taylor, Green Party convenor, said he doubted the new proposals would now be approved.

The plans split the policy committee, until the last minute compromise proposed by the Green Party allowed them to go through.

The amendment, rejected by Conservatives, suggested alternative sites should be sought to place a "meaningful proportion" of the homes elsewhere.

Tory Councillor Garry Peltzer Dunn said: "I think this (the Karis application) makes a mockery of the amendment.

"It backs up what we've said, that the amendment is worthless."

Mr Arghiros said he thought it was unlikely a site would be found and that to move any but the 276 affordable homes elsewhere could prove financially impossible.

He said the income from the homes put on the market would subsidise the sports centre.

He said they could not sell them at a high enough price to cover the cost if they were moved to a site such as Preston Barracks.

"We need a premium for those market units and that's based on their position, which is second to none. You don't have to cross a road to get to the beach, you are on the beach.

"We wouldn't be up for building those flats in Preston Barracks if the council was to recommend it.

"If someone comes forward with an alternative that could be worthwhile we will look at it but the intent is to build what we've submitted."

Coun Taylor said: "I'm disappointed because this isn't the application the people of Brighton and Hove want to see.

"They wanted a more modest development and that's what our amendment tried to get them."

Once registered by council officers, Frank Gehry's plans will go to the council's planning applications sub-committee, possibly in December.