The variation [BH2012/02529] seeks to increase the internal hotel floorspace from 3029sqm to 4802sqm [58%] and decrease the internal office space from 2973sqm to 2460sqm [17%] and create a new basement area to accommodate plant and other services.

The increase in hotel floorspace, which retains the proposed footprint, is to accommodate an increase in room size in the four star hotel but not the overall number of rooms. Meanwhile the reduction in office floorspace is to accommodate the specific requirements of a new innovation centre to be operated by Sussex Innovation Centre [SInC].

The hotel will be operated by Hotel Indigo and the innovation centre will be a city centre addition to SInC’s facility at the University of Sussex Falmer campus.