Drivers Jonas had hoped to build a four-star luxury hotel, a conference centre, gym, restaurant, cafe and 146 flats on part of the 9 hectare Brighton station site but the application to Brighton and Hove City Council varied significantly from a masterplan agreed in 2002. The masterplan proposed a hotel with a maximum of seven storeys on that segment of the site. Councillor Simon Williams, speaking on behalf of the Green Party, told the committee the structure would be visible from 20 miles away and across 70 per cent of the city, including the South Downs. Branding it simple, bland and boring, he said: "If we are ever to have tall buildings in this city let them be beautiful buildings."

Green party councillor Sue Paskins said: "I am really pleased this is being refused. There was very little similarity between this application and the planning brief. "Going from seven floors to 42 is horrendous. I am looking forward to receiving the application that respects the planning brief that we went to the bother of working on with the residents."

Foundations for the multi-million pound site near the station are now complete and building work is about to begin but only on approved developments. Plans for a budget hotel from developers Jury Doyle also depart from planning guidance. The developers have applied to build a tower with seven storeys instead of the recommended four. Given the reaction of the 42 storey proposals Jury Doyle may well face their own problems when this application goes to committee.