West Pier bosses have confirmed that a planning application for the controversial Brighton Eye will be lodged with the council within days.

A presentation to councillors is due to be given by the team behind the Eye at the end of April.

This includes architects Julia Barfield and David Marks.

A planning application will be lodged, also before the end of the month.

Chief executive of the West Pier Trust Geoff Lockwood confirmed the timetable as a major hotel chain, set to be one of the main commercial beneficiaries of the scheme, gave the Eye its full support.

Holiday Inn, the chain which owns the hotel opposite the West Pier, said the 600ft structure, designed by the same team as the London Eye, would be a "great landmark site".

Holiday Inn manager Paul Wright said: "We have been welcoming the West Pier Trust into the hotel for some time now and have eagerly followed their efforts to regenerate Brighton's famous West Pier.

"We are delighted that, subject to planning consent, this great landmark site will have the opportunity to once again be home to an active, major visitor attraction for Brighton."

An estimated 500,000 visitors are likely to be attracted to the £20 million observation tower, which would be built at the land end of the pier.

A model of the Eye has been set up in the hotel along with a comment book.

Rachel Clark, manager of the West Pier Trust, said: "We are overjoyed our site has been chosen as the home of the Brighton Eye.

"Hopefully the planning application will be successful and this mast will generate the cash needed by the trust to stimulate action on the West Pier itself and make the site a leading attraction in Brighton."

Monday, April 24, 2006