The Brighton Green Party leader has echoed council leader Bella Sankey’s comments that the i360 going into administration is a “sad day for our city” – but has not apologised.

Cllr Steve Davis said the Brighton i360 viewing tower brought a “huge amount of regeneration for a long-neglected part of the city” despite a lack of commercial success forcing it to call in administrators.

But, after Cllr Sankey suggested the party should apologise for their role in the financing of the structure, Green leader Cllr Davis instead said there was a “collective responsibility for both the positives and downsides to this investment in our city”.

Speaking after today’s announcement, Cllr Davis said: “This is a sad day for our city and our thoughts go out to the staff at the i360 especially, who now face uncertainty about their future.

“The i360’s history spans nearly two decades across both Green and Labour administrations.

“Alongside the i360 came a huge amount of regeneration for a long-neglected part of the city, the benefits of which are still being felt today, and there is collective responsibility for both the positives and downsides to this investment in our city.

“It’s in the interests of the council and everyone in the city that we see the best positive outcome from this, and the council should be doing whatever it can to support that.”

A minority Green administration, led by Jason Kitcat, was at the helm of Brighton and Hove City Council when a £36.2 million loan was agreed through the Public Works Loan Board (PWLB) in 2014.

The loan now means that Brighton and Hove City Council faces £51.04 million in debt from Brighton i360 Ltd.

Bella Sankey called the i360 a “monument to Green Party failure” following the announcement.

She also called for a formal apology from the Green Party, as well as Brighton Pavilion MP Sian Berry on behalf of her party.

Ms Berry was approached for comment.