Tower could be eyesore seen for miles

The need to consider the impact of what would be the tallest building in the county has come from archaeologist Mark Taylor.

He said that the impact of such a building dominating the skyline from the South Downs needed to be considered.

"A multi-storey structure of this height would be unprecedented in West Sussex and could be 'iconic' for the wrong reasons," stated Mr Taylor, the senior archaeologist at West Sussex County Council.

"High rise coastal developments, as well as being visible from long distances at sea and along the coast, can be readily seen from prominent locations within the South Downs area of natural beauty, which may soon become a national park."

It was well known, he continued, that the location of prehistoric hilltop sites within the South Downs provided visibility over long distances.