Millionaire Andrew Goodall has been a huge force for change in the history of Brighton Marina.

He bought it for £9 million in 1996 when the harbour was at a low ebb and revitalised it with new developments.

Now he believes it needs a landmark building and has unveiled plans for a 40-storey skyscraper as the centrepiece of a £175 million proposal for new homes.

Mr Goodall said: "I bought the land for £9 million and it's true to say it was the sale of the century.

"I had more conviction than the rest of the property people but my view was that a very big property needs to be put into a certain format to encourage other people to invest. It was quite a feat to get those people in.

"They don't like investing in something that won't make money."

He came to Brighton Marina on his first day as a trainee chartered accountant in 1984 to undertake an audit.

Mr Goodall said: "There was nothing there then except prefab offices which were still there when I took over 12 years later. I had great pleasure in knocking them down as soon as I could."

He is managing director of Brunswick Developments, a company founded 16 years ago which has restored and converted large Regency properties in Brighton and Hove, developing more than 300 prestigious flats on the seafront.

At the marina, Brunswick built shops, a multiplex cinema, a bowling alley, a fitness centre and housing as part of a masterplan.

Mr Goodall then sold 450 plots to housebuilders Barratt and 600,000sqft of commercial space to Parkridge. The 1,500-berth marina went to Premier Marinas.

He retained the long leases, ground rents and estate management. This side of the business employs 55 people.

Special planning guidance for the marina was approved in January 2003 and Brunswick appointed Wilkinson Eyre Architects to prepare a scheme for 1,000 flats and 30,000sqft of commercial space.

The planning application for the scheme, of which the focal point will be the slim, contoured tower, will be submitted later this year together with an overall masterplan for other areas.

If it is accepted by Brighton and Hove City Council, the tower will become the tallest building in Sussex.

After that it is likely plans for a further 500 flats and 150,000sqft of commercial space will be submitted.

Mr Goodall, married with two young children, lives near Horsham and was Sussex Businessman of the Year in 1998.

Last year he made an unsuccessful bid to the city council, again in harness with Wilkinson Eyre, to be its chosen partner for the King Alfred redevelopment in Hove.

The marina remains his biggest interest and he wants to open it up to everyone in the city.

He said: "I didn't want anyone to be in doubt that if you haven't been to the marina you haven't really been to Brighton and Hove."