English Heritage has backed controversial plans to overhaul Brighton's disintegrating West Pier.

The Government's conservation watchdog said bringing such a fine example of Victorian architecture back to its former glory outweighed any impact new shoreline buildings may have on the seafront.

Inspectors at English Heritage recommend Brighton and Hove city planners approve plans by developers St Modwen, whose proposals have sparked a protest from hundreds, so long as the scheme meets with legal agreements and strict planning conditions.

The application by St Modwen Properties, the property group founded by racing entrepreneur Sir Stanley Clarke which owns one of London's most scorned buildings, the Elephant & Castle shopping centre, will be considered by councillors on February 26.

English Heritage's opinion carries immense weight in the final decision on the application.

Campaigners from Save Our Seafront, an umbrella group, and conservation societies in the city have strongly opposed the plans by St Modwen, the private sector partners of the Brighton West Pier Trust.

However, in a lengthy letter to the city council, Dr Richard Morrice, inspector of historic buildings for English Heritage, said approval should be given subject to a legal agreement and conditions.

The pier, a Grade I listed building, has been closed since 1975 and little maintenance has been carried out since the Second World War.

Despite that, it remained standing until December when part of the concert hall fell into the sea.

Dr Morrice said the pier was an important piece of Victorian engineering comparable to the great work of Brunel or the Stephensons.

"Its decorative character adds to the importance of the West Pier as one of the most significant and characteristic of all Victorian buildings.

"It also takes its place as a major contributor to Brighton and Hove seafront which John Betjeman considered to be one of the most important architectural ensembles in England."

Dr Morrice said the collapse should not have come as any surprise and it was a tribute to designer Eugeniues Birch it had lasted as long as it had.

He said although much of the restored pier would be rebuilt, this would have happened anyway.

It was important as much original material as possible was reused.

Dr Morrice said the Heritage Lottery Fund's grant offer towards the restoration was not enough to pay for repair or to make the pier viable in the future.

Consultants had been employed by English Heritage to look at the viability and scale of the St Modwen shoreline development.