PLAN IS THROWN OUT

CAMPAIGNERS have spoken of their delight after plans to turn historic Marlborough House into a pub were rejected by the Government.

Brighton and Hove Council turned down plans from brewers Fullers for the building in Old Steine, Brighton.

The London-based firm appealed and there was a lengthy public inquiry last year.

Now an inspector has rejected the appeal and this has been upheld by Environment Secretary John Prescott.

Marlborough House has been empty for more than a year while its future was under discussion. Now the council, which owns it, will have to decide what alternative use it could have and whether it should be sold.

Restoration

Selma Montford, secretary of the Brighton Society, said: "This is very good news.

"I would like to see everyone get together and come up with a plan to give it an appropriate use which involves restoration and some public access."

Jeane Lepper, who chairs the planning committee, said: "I'm delighted. This is a very important building.

"It shows once again the independence of the planning committee. The council wanted to sell it for this use, but we had the courage to stand up and say No."

Coun Lepper said colleagues felt strongly that pub use would be inappropriate for such a fine building, even though more people would have been able to see it.

Elaine Evans, an educational consultant, of Reynolds Road, Hove, who gave evidence at the inquiry against the conversion, said: "I now hope that the council gets its act together to improve the exterior of the building."

Maggie Brian, the council's development control manager, said officials would now be studying the 30-page official report.

They will be looking for clues by the inspector about the possible future use of the building.

Marlborough House was designed by the architect Robert Adam and is his only work in Brighton. It still contains many original features.

Built as a town house, it was used by the council as offices for more than a century before becoming surplus to requirements when modern buildings were put up.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.