Seafront hotel complex on the drawing board

Three internationally-renowned architects have been chosen to draw-up plans for the landmark building.

It would be situated on the site of the former Metropole Hotel, adjacent to the De La Warr Pavilion.

The development, comprising a hotel, shops, offices and apartments, could bring new life and prosperity to the town, say regeneration leaders.

It would be the first major regeneration scheme in Bexhill since the Pavilion was built in the 1930s.

The architects were selected by a panel made up of Rother District Council, the De La Warr Trust, the Regional Design Panel and local regeneration organisation Sea Space.

The plans hark back to the original designs for the De La Warr, which proposed a large hotel adjacent to its west wing.

The aim is to attract holiday and business tourism to Bexhill as part of a wider master plan to rejuvenate the whole town centre.

But the billion dollar question has yet to be answered: Who will pay for the development and make it pay in the future?

The three designers will compete to produce plans for complex. Their brief includes:

* A 60 bed hotel

* 8,000 square metres of office space

* 12 residential apartments

* Ground level retail units.

All have been made aware of the importance of preserving and enhancing the iconic architecture of the adjoining De La Warr. The first plans will go on public display in March.