A 10-storey block of flats could be built next to King’s House, the former seafront headquarters of Brighton and Hove City Council.
The proposed block – almost twice as high as King’s House – is part of a scheme to create 169 homes.
The scheme, which has attracted hundreds of objections, includes a six-storey block on the Second Avenue side of the site.
The proposal has won the backing of planning officials, with a report supporting the scheme published today (Wednesday 31 October).
The owner, Mortar Nova Grand Avenue, hopes to be given permission next week to move ahead with the scheme when the council’s Planning Committee meets at Hove Town Hall.
The plans include knocking down the 1981 office building in Grand Avenue where the 10-storey block is planned. It would contain 72 flats.
On the seafront, Mortar Nova aims to revamp the landmark grade II Victorian building, in Queen’s Gardens, and convert it into 69 flats.
The proposed six-storey block in Second Avenue would contain 28 flats – all classed as affordable homes – with 15 of them for rent. The other 13 would be for shared ownership.
In all, the scheme includes 50 one-bedroom flats, 116 two-bedroom flats and three three-bedroom flats.
Mortar Nova held public consultation events in January, with more than 300 people going along to look at the plans.
Seventy-five people have written to object to the project, citing parking problems, overcrowding and a lack of affordable housing.
Jackie Thrussell, of Queen’s Gardens, wrote: “I am very worried about car parking in the area with the introduction of 169 dwellings. Will the car parking provided be the only available to the new dwellers of these units as that could mean a massive increase in cars in the area?”
The flats are expected to have 74 resident parking spaces and 74 visitor spaces.
Only 15 on-street parking permits are being made available to people moving in.
The other 154 flats in will not be entitled to a street parking permit unless they are blue badge holders.
