Eastbourne is throwing off its staid reputation and marketing itself as the place for young home-buyers to invest.

Redrow Homes has started work on its latest development at Sovereign Harbour, including 260 one and two-bedroom flats with 18 penthouses at The Boardwalk.

The properties go on sale in April but the marketing drive is well under way.

Sales director Paul Moran said: "The original design of the development draws on nautical influences and has been specifically planned to reflect and enhance the surroundings in which it is set.

"The complete look will be both bold and eye-catching with splashes of blue and yellow combining with aluminium, wood and canvas to create a very individual feel.

"A timber-decked walkway between the six separate apartment buildings will further enhance the maritime theme."

However, people already living in Sovereign Harbour are less than impressed with the news of more housing.

Jon Tilbury, 37, an IT and computer consultant who moved to the harbour last month, said: "I really like it here and I'm sure these new flats will look great but our main concern is there are no facilities for us here.

"There are no shops, no open spaces and any patch of land you see you can bet more flats will end up on.

"What concerns me most is that there will be more and more flats and less and less view, and only the newest places will get a good deal in terms of view."

Last month Sam Blakebrough, 32, and neighbours from The Piazza in Key West Road draped banners from their balconies protesting at another development.

They claimed a triangle of land outside their square had been set aside for landscaping but were horrified to learn property developer Westbury planned to build six two-bedroom apartments.

Mrs Blakebrough said she would never have moved to the area had she known of Westbury's plans.

Redrow hopes its apartments will be ready to move into by 2005.

Alongside the residential development there will also be a berth holders' car parkand a facilities building with toilets, showers and an observation gallery overlooking the marina.

The harbour opened in 1993 and has more than 600 permanent berth holders.