A last-ditch attempt to halt the development of a recycling and waste transfer centre has been crushed by central government.

Ministers rejected a request by Brighton Pavilion MP David Lepper to call in a decision to give the go-ahead to the £10 million centre on the site of a former abattoir in Hollingdean Lane, Brighton.

It means there is no possibility of a public inquiry.

It was Mr Lepper's second attempt to get the Government to intervene in the controversial development.

His first effort, prior to last month's crucial Brighton and Hove City Council planning meeting at which the centre was given approval, was also rejected.

Planning Minister Baroness Andrews, setting out her reasons for rejecting the latest request in a letter to Mr Lepper, repeated the line that Veolia's proposal was not of "regional significance" and was consistent with Brighton and Hove City Council's policies on recycling and waste minimisation.

Mr Lepper told The Argus the proposed waste centre, which would handle up to 200,000 tonnes of waste daily, had sparked the largest number of objections of any development he had ever known.

He accused Veolia of failing to show it had investigated two alternative sites named in the waste strategy produced by Brighton and Hove City Council and East Sussex County Council.

He argued that since Veolia was contracted by both councils to implement their waste strategy, it had been "wrong" for members of the city council to have sat in judgement when the planning application was heard on June 19.

His belief the decision had been taken inappropriately formed the basis of his second formal complaint.

Mr Lepper said he was still willing to fight but said: "I don't know where we go from here. I imagine Veolia will want to get on with things fairly quickly."

Some campaigners have discussed lodging complaints with the local government ombudsman and Standards Board about the conduct of councillors at the planning meeting.

But, barring costly moves by campaigners to seek a judicial review, the way appears to have been cleared for Veolia to begin to develop the site, which is metres from Downs Infant School in Ditchling Road.

Veolia said it had no start date but is expected to begin work later this year.