AN MP has called for the Government to look into the redevelopment of the Aquarena site in Worthing.

A 15-storey tower could become the town’s tallest building if plans go ahead in the face of strong public opposition.

Just one councillor out of seven voted against revised plans for the Aquarena site in Worthing at a planning meeting on Thursday.

But Sir Peter Bottomley, MP for Worthing West, said: “The developers are not taking into account the impact this development would have along the coast, with the planned building being an intrusive feature along the Worthing seafront.

“No one who has spoken at the council meetings discussing the proposals said that they lived in Worthing and it feels like the area’s residents are not being listened to in favour of a project based on financial gain.

“I would like the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government to look into this and ideally I would like to see the plans overruled.”

Secretary of state Sajid Javid is yet to respond to Sir Peter’s request for him to look into the plans.

Mr Javid holds the power to call in plans and hold an inquiry into local planning matters when they are of national importance, having previously intervened in a planning proposal in Lewes last year.

The revised proposal for the Worthing site followed the refusal of planning permission in September 2015 for a 21-storey tower on the site.

The new plans are for a shorter, 15-storey building, providing 141 homes, commercial space and a public cafe.

Ben Cheal, managing director of Roffey Homes, the developer which submitted the proposal, said: “The design is the result of much hard work with respected architects to produce a sustainable development that is a confident statement about Worthing’s future, something everyone in the town can be proud of.”

Mr Cheal said the £45 million Aquarena tower would be almost exclusively for Worthing or Sussex residents if the firm’s previous schemes sales patterns were repeated.

More than 2,300 residents objected to the redevelopment scheme, saying the tower was still too high and it would harm nearby Grade II* listed Beach House.

Sir Peter said: “There has been no real evidence of public support, this will be detrimental to Worthing’s coast and I honestly believe that this site does not need to be redeveloped in such a drastic way.”

Conservationists and the design and conservation architect have also objected to the height of the proposed tower.