Controversial plans for a 30-storey tower in a Sussex town have been toppled by the recession.

But objectors to the landmark building, which would have housed 180 flats, say they never believed it would ever have been built anyway and that it was a “red herring”.

The tower was included in the £100 million regeneration plans for Bognor by developer St Modwen Properties.

St Modwen, which was chosen by Arun District Council as its preferred developer for the project, has suffered in the recent economic downturn.

It said that its ambitious plans for such dense housing in the huge tower were no longer viable.

Tim Seddon, the company's regional director, said the public opposition to the controversial building also led to it being scrapped.

The company, which maintains that it is still committed to regenerating the town, has also applied to Arun District Council to delay its submission of a planning application for its scheme by up to three years to help it weather the recession.

The delay is due to be accepted by Arun councillors on Wednesday.

Hugh Coster, deputy chairman of the Bognor Regis Civic Society, maintained that the tower was only included to distract attention from the plans for a nine-storey block of flats on the seafront.

He said: “We are not surprised at all that the tower won't be built.

“We never thought it would be, it was a complete red herring.

“The most important thing is that they still plan to build 168 flats in a nine-storey block on the seafront.

“More than 10,000 people have signed the petition saying they don't want flats on the Regis Centre site but it is still the plan.

“What we would like to see is proper consultation over this three-year delay period because there hasn't been any up until now.

“These plans have been underway for three years now and we have had just one consultation but that had vague concepts and sketches. It's really not good enough.

“What we want to see is what was promised – lots of consultation to establish what people want to see in the town.”

Mr Coster also rounded on Arun District Council and claimed that it was not doing enough to make sure that the views of residents were included in the plans.

No one from St Modwen or Arun District Council were available to comment.