A landmark building in Hove which is beginning to take shape has been slammed for being out of keeping with the area.

Averil Older, a member of the Brighton Society and the Hove Civic Society, believes the development of 22 flats in Connaught Road, Hove, should not have been allowed in the street.

Mrs Older, of Goldstone Villas, Hove, a prospective Conservative city councillor, regularly walks past the development, which is being built on the site of an old garage.

She says when its eight storeys are completed, it will tower over existing houses in the road and block out light.

Before the plans were approved, neighbours and residents argued the modern building was out of keeping with the area and unsympathetic to the Old Hove conservation area.

Mrs Older said: "Now we can see how entirely inappropriate it is in these surroundings.

"It is five storeys high and there are three more to go. It is going to be towering above the surrounding houses which is just what everybody said it would do."

The scheme includes 40 per cent low-cost housing.

It was designed by Professor Stephen Adutt and RH Partnership based in Brighton, and planning permission was won by Karis Developments.

Mrs Older criticised Brighton and Hove City Council for giving the scheme the go-ahead.

She said: "To me, landmark buildings stick out like sore thumbs. We do not want buildings which are out of keeping with the area."

Josh Arghiros, managing director of Karis Developments, said: "We aim to commission the world's greatest architects and artists to build the most beautiful buildings for this city.

"There is always a fear of the unknown but it is amazing how, when our buildings are finished everybody loves them."

Brighton and Hove planning councillor Bob Carden said: "We consider this development to be a good, efficient and economic use of the site.

"We liked the modern and innovative design. Whilst controversial, we considered it to be acceptable for the site.

"The proposals fitted in with our preference to redeveloping brownfield sites for housing rather than green spaces."