Chris Eubank looks favourite to win the latest round of a fight to demolish his two homes to make way for flats.

His neighbours have been dealt a bruising blow by planning officers who support fresh plans to build 41 flats in the wealthy Upper Drive in Hove.

The application is now expected to be approved by councillors when it goes to committee on Wednesday.

Their decision could sound the final bell in what has proved the longest fight of Eubank's career.

The former world middleweight boxing champ has battled for two years to gain approval for the development.

In one corner is Eubank and Birchwood Restorations, which submitted the plans to bulldoze the two exclusive detached houses.

In the other are campaigners, including Eubank's neighbours, who say the flats are out of keeping with the area.

They say the plans would set a precedent for demolishing family homes in favour of flats, which could ruin Hove's character.

Some living along the leafy road have been infuriated by the proposal, which includes 16 affordable homes.

However, they are coming to terms with the fact the development is almost certain to go ahead.

Mr Eubank said: "I'm just happy everyone else seems happy with this design. We will always endeavour to do as much as we can not to upset other people living in the area."

Karron Eubank, 39 and a mother of four, said she was delighted the application had leapt a significant hurdle.

She said: "I'm very excited about the project now.

"Everyone seems to be much more happy with this development.

"There are some gruesome buildings around but this design has a lot going for it. I hope to oversee this project myself and see through what I have started.

"I plan to keep some of the flats because I do like the area.

"My eldest is 14 now and in two years time he might want to live by himself."

John Regan, a close friend of the retired boxer, runs Birchwood Restorations.

He said: "We have been dealing with the council for two years and I just hope the committee will give approval.

"I've always said we would eventually get there because we have not gone at this like a bull in a china shop.

"There are some that would object to the changing of a light bulb but we did not ignore the legitimate concerns people raised.

"People who will eventually live there will be delighted - instead of having one family, there will be 40 different homes.

"The council should form an opinion about how this unique road should be developed before determining the application."

Appeals against planning refusal are much more likely to be successful if officers recommend approval.

A previous application was thrown out in April when the planning committee ruled the blocks were too big for the site.

Paul Earp, the council planning officer who drew up the application, said: "This application overcomes previous reasons for refusal.

"The development would make a positive contribution to the visual appearance of the street."

An independent panel of architects advised the new application was considerably better than before.

The group told council planners: "The proposal is very much improved from the previous scheme with buildings which are much more comfortable in their context."

But The Upper Drive resident Ray Taylor, 74, said: "We're absolutely devastated.

"The last application was rejected and the council quoted about ten bylaws which they said it did not comply with.

"As far as we're concerned nothing has changed, there are still going to be five blocks of flats going in there.

"I live absolutely bang opposite and the house Eubank lives in now is very attractive and always immaculate.

"This is totally money-orientated. He can sell this bit of land for millions which will buy him a lovely huge house and have some money in his pocket."

The latest designs submitted to the council include an increase in the gap between the buildings.

Improvements have also been made to reduce the impact on close neighbours.