A mock Tudor mansion which overlooks Preston Park, Brighton, is to be demolished and replaced with 50 new flats.

Brighton and Hove City Council's planning committee has approved plans to knock down Preston Place, built in the Thirties, despite opposition from neighbours.

The application by Berkeley Homes was approved in principle after an hour-long debate by the council's planning committee.

Earlier they had refused permission for a similar building at Preston Place, near the foot of Preston Park Avenue.

Developers appealed and a planning inspector upheld the decision.

But he found against the applicants only on the grounds the plan did not include enough car parking spaces.

Ian Sowerby, a partner in agents Bell Cornwell Partnership, said the inspector had agreed the design of the flats, which could be up to five storeys high, was acceptable.

Labour councillor Delia Forester said: "If we refuse this, there will be an appeal which we could lose and face costs amounting to tens of thousands of pounds."

But Green councillor Sue Paskins said it was wrong the inspector had allowed the demolition of a house built at the same time as the park was remodelled.