Observer Opinion: Need this ventilation tower be so high?

Unlike the council’s original application for a central staircase at the Grade II listed building - which was eventually thrown out - the size and scale of this tower was not apparent on the plans.

The main problem is the structure’s height, which effectively blocks the sweeping view of the De La Warr Pavilion from the seafront at the Colonnade’s western side.

Of course ventilation facilities for the Colonnade are an important part of plans to run part of the building as a restaurant.

But need the tower have been so high and out of keeping with the area? Surely other alternatives were available.

While councils rightly have delegated powers to allow officers to make decisions on minor tweaks to schemes such as Next Wave without involving councillors, a tweak of this size should have been thrown back to the planning committee.