One of Brighton and Hove's biggest eyesores is about to be demolished to make way for housing and offices.

Work on the £65 million City Park development is due to start at the end of the month and, when completed, the project is likely to create up to 2,000 jobs.

It will see the concrete buildings at Hove Park, which formerly housed the Alliance and Leicester building society headquarters, demolished.

Richard Thain, of new owners the Cuckfield Group, said: "We are hoping to start work within a month.

"If the weather holds us up it could be three months but things are about to start moving.

"The old buildings are an eyesore and we really want to get something happening on the site as quickly as possible."

Cuckfield plans to convert the prime brownfield site in Orchard Road into 64 homes and three commercial properties.

The homes are likely to include flats where people can both live and work.

The commercial buildings are likely to be used as offices or call centres.

Hove MP Ivor Caplin said: "I am pleased with the decision to have both residential and commercial units on the site.

"Not only will they provide new housing and thousands of jobs for the local area, it will be done in an environmentally sound way.

"The site is important to the local economy but also to the area around Hove Park.

"The look of the new buildings is in keeping with the area and will be welcomed by residents and park users."

The development is expected to be completed by the end of next year and will include on-site parking on three levels for up to 640 cars.

The buildings facing Hove Park will have curved roofs following the natural contours of the area.

A rooftop terrace will give workers spectacular views to the sea and the Downs and a glass tower which can be illuminated at night will become a landmark at the entrance to the site.