Work to construct a much-anticipated city landmark will begin nearly a year late because of fears it could become a repeat of London's wobbling Millennium Bridge.

Construction of the futuristic Brighton Eye observation tower at the site of the derelict West Pier was originally earmarked for July 2007 but a series of delays means it is now due to start sometime in spring 2008.

Geoff Lockwood, from the West Pier Trust, said work had been going on behind the scenes to make sure the foundations were secure enough to support the unusual structure.

He said architects Marks Barfield, who also designed the London Eye, had been carrying out extensive checks to make sure the tower would be safe.

He said: "Work to the tower has been going on for at least three months but none of it has been visible.

"It is such a unique structure that we are having to be very careful with preparations and make sure everything is right. Everyone remembers the wobbly bridge over the Thames and wants to avoid that happening again. We need to make sure everything is properly in place.

"Now a lot of that has been done so hopefully work will soon start - which will be very exciting.

"Like everyone I would have liked work to have started this autumn but on the other hand a few months delay to make sure it stays there longer is more than worthwhile."

Now the structural engineers have given the project the thumbs up and it is hoped to be ready for the public by early 2010.

Dr John Roberts, the i360's chief engineer, said there had been problems with Brighton and Hove's main sewer which ran directly under the site. He said they now had permission to divert the sewer and so work could go ahead.

Dr Roberts said: "Our site investigations have gone extremely well. We bored into the ground and have found that there is good quality rock.

"We don't anticipate any problems when we start building the foundations for the tower in the New Year."

The adventurous design will include a vertical cable car, an 18-metre-wide pod which travels up and down a 180 metre tall spire.

The structure will be four metres wide.

City councillor Garry Peltzer Dunn said: "We are really pleased that progress is going well with all of the pre-construction phase of this development.

"We are looking forward to a construction start in the New Year and believe it will be cause for national note and celebration in the way that the Eye was in London."

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