Plans to build a controversial high-rise hotel on the old ice-rink site in Queen Square have been recommended for approval by the council’s planners. (Ed: This is an archived story: see later stories above.)

The MCHA has consistently opposed this plan because of its impact on St Nick’s, the churchyard and Wykeham Terrace. All of these buildings are listed. The MCHA says the hotel is too high and too large.

The hotel will largely obscure the Queen Square office building in the picture above. The plans also make nonsense of the council’s tall buildings policy, which says that this site is unsuitable for a six-storey building.

The planning committee is due to make its decision on Wednesday 27th June. You can email the planning officer directly: sue.dubberley@brighton-hove.gov.uk or you can register your objection on the council’s website here. Click on the comment button and make sure you tell them you’re objecting. Or you can always write to to Development Control, Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove, BN3 3BQ, quoting reference BH2012/00782.