More than 150 residents packed a church hall last night to protest against plans to build a 16-storey block of flats.

Some were forced to stand at the back as they expressed their anger over plans to build the flats on the old Endeavour Garage site in Preston Road, Brighton.

There were angry shouts as the protesters voiced their concerns about how the planned block of flats would tower over the existing two-storey houses in the Preston Park and Stanford Road area.

One resident said: "When the Victorians built our suburb they built a balance which has survived.

"I think if we throw that away in the interests of a short-term property boom we will betray the future and I ask you to oppose this development bitterly because it deserves it."

The project by Karis Developments is the first large scheme in Brighton and Hove to meet the city council's wish for 40 per cent of the homes to be affordable.

The £15 million scheme would have hardly any parking on site with 25 spaces for 124 flats. Instead, residents would be encouraged to join a car club.

They were sceptical about the lack of parking spaces and felt the problem of parking would be pushed into and clog up the surrounding streets.

There was widespread laughter and derision when the parking situation was mention by Malcolm Dawes of the Brighton Society as well as plans to floodlight the building at night.

Another resident said: "The roads around become the car park to a tower which will not provide parking. When you get home from work at night you can imagine what the situation will be."

Maggie Briant, development manager at the city council explained what a car club would mean and tried to ease residents' concerns about parking.

She said: "Everyone who takes a flat, whether renting or buying, will get membership.

"The developers will subsidise the scheme for two or three years. Other car clubs have been tried and been successful.

"There would be something like two or three cars which would be parked on site. There would be a booking system for those vehicles and people could take them out at any time."

Other people voiced their support for the proposals at the meeting arguing it was a 21st Century development and planners had to move with the times.

One Brighton resident said: "This city has lots of lovely buildings but that doesn't necessarily mean an absolute no change edict is in force. We have to think of change.

"For this city to go forward and be successful we have to accept change."

Councillor Chris Morley said he could not comment on the proposal's merits specifically at this stage because of his role within the council but he said: "For me it facilitates all the criteria for modern architecture.

"It's challenging, it asks questions and it's controversial."

No date has been set to decide the application.