Conservation groups have criticised the design of a proposed new £65 million King Alfred swimming pool and leisure centre, saying that it looks more like a shopping centre.
But planning officials from Brighton and Hove City Council have given the scheme their backing, advising councillors to do the same.
At the same time, the council received 49 letters of support for the project.
The report to the Planning Committee includes official statements from council departments and external bodies on heritage, sports facilities and environmental considerations.
The Brighton and Hove Conservation Advisory Group (CAG), which was set up by the council, has objected to the application.
CAG said: “The proposal fails to realise the exceptional architectural opportunity presented by this landmark seafront site and would cause harm to the character and appearance of adjoining conservation areas, the setting of designated and non-designated heritage assets and important seafront views.
“The design is considered architecturally unambitious and insufficiently responsive to its highly sensitive heritage context.”
But the council’s heritage team said that the scheme would result in “less than substantial harm” to the neighbouring Pembroke and Princes and Old Hove conservation areas.
The heritage statement said that there were grade II listed buildings in St Aubyns as well as Barford Court, in Kingsway.
Locally listed assets include Western Lawns, the seafront shelter, seafront railings and St Aubyns Mansions.
On heritage, the report to the Planning Committee said: “The site forms part of the wider seafront setting of these assets.
“But due in part to the distance between the site and the assets and existing built form, the proposal is not considered to detract from the ability to experience their significance.”
The proposed use of Western Lawns as a car park is considered harmful but the plan is to do so only for only two years and then to restore the area.
Both the Regency Society and Hove Civic Society have criticised the design.
The Regency Society said: “The exterior shows little imagination. Just a collection of boxes with a motley collage of façade elements in, it appears, an attempt to meet an interpretation of the City Plan.
“The end result might easily be mistaken for a shopping centre. It is hard to understand why the façade designs have become worse following the intervention of a design review panel.”
Hove Civic Society said: “The seaward elevation is relatively successful – it’s quite transparent in places and should offer an interesting vista and experience for pedestrians along the promenade. But the same cannot be said about the land-side elevations.
“We believe additional design efforts are needed to make those landward sides more interesting and appealing.
“This is an important public building that will define the western end of development along the seafront for many years to come.
“The city deserves not only a modern, functional and effective new leisure centre on this site – but also one with an external appearance that impresses all who see it and that expresses civic pride and confidence in the city.”
The council’s Planning Committee is due to meet at Hove Town Hall at 2pm on Wednesday 29 July. The meeting is scheduled to be webcast.
It no longer matters what it looks like. Look at what is there now. A worn out eyesore unfit for purpose. Ugly, inadequate and expensive to maintain as well. Objecting to everything is a Brighton mental disease. The King Alfred has been in a terrible state for *decades*. Decades! It has even had to close for long periods because it has so many problems. It must be replaced. Self-important idiots should stop bleating and moaning and let the city get on with a desperately needed *improvement*.