Supermarket chain Tesco is being prosecuted over changes made to a historic building.

The Argus revealed on Wednesday that the firm had flouted regulations at its Express store in Western Road, Hove, which is due to open on February 16.

The store, the company's fourth in Hove, occupies part of the ground floor of Palmeira House, the old Maples store, which is a listed building.

Its upper floors are being converted into luxury housing.

Members of Brighton and Hove City Council's planning committee have now unanimously decided to approve legal action over unauthorised alterations to the Grade II listed building.

They also agreed to issue a listed building enforcement notice over five alleged contraventions.

They are:

Removal of the windows which were a feature of the old store
Building an internal suspended ceiling
Forming internal partitions to create a cash office
Putting in enlarged fascias above the shop windows
Building new entrance doors
The council's head of development control, Maggie Brian, said Tesco was a high-profile, national firm employing top consultants who knew what they were doing.

She said: "The agents were advised by officers that the work, which did not have the benefit of the necessary consent, was at their own risk but have chosen to ignore this advice and push on."

Councillors were told the authority could not prevent work on the building from continuing and the store would open as planned.

But if the case is proved the firm may have to remove the alterations.

Agents for Tesco told planning officials they had been negotiating in a spirit of compromise.

They asked for action to be postponed and added: "A decision to start legal proceedings would have the effect of closing the door to further discussions."

David Watkins, Liberal Democrat Brunswick ward councillor, said: "Tesco are walking all over us."

And Tory Lynda Hyde said: "I would like to see firm enforcement action taken against them."

Labour councillor Delia Forester said the building would look even worse by night because of the strong lighting.

She added: "It looks absolutely dreadful and I do hope we succeed."

A Tesco spokeswoman was unavailable for comment today.