Plans for a stripy yellow tower block in the bohemian heart of Brighton have been suddenly dropped.

Architect Piers Gough designed the eight-storey 'banana block' for Karis Developments in North Road, Brighton.

It was intended to be the first of a series in the North Laine neighbourhood with flats above a cafe.

Karis managing director Josh Arghiros said it would trigger an architectural renaissance in what he called the "funky quarter."

He had a vision for a series of similar mini towers across the area inspired by the Italian city of San Giminiano, known as the place of beautiful towers.

But the Brighton Society and the North Laine Community Association opposed the scheme.

They thought the block would be out of keeping with a small-scale area.

The application was made almost a year ago and amended in June. Since then, Brighton and Hove City Council has commissioned a tall buildings study which identifies ten sites where high-rises could be acceptable. North Road is not among them.

Mr Gough and Karis have decided to withdraw the application.

In a letter to the council Mr Gough said: "Although the study suggests tall buildings may be appropriate on the edge of conservation areas in some instances, it does not identify this location as being suitable for such a building.

"We must therefore reluctantly conclude this application would not be acceptable to your council."

Mr Gough said a suitable alternative application would be made.