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Former regional daily office set to be flattened for Jaguar dealership

An office complex that housed a regional daily for 25 years is set to be flattened to make way for a new car dealership.

Argus House, which was home to Brighton daily The Argus until November, will be demolished and replaced by a Jaguar and Land Rover showroom, as well as a builders’ merchants.

Officers at Brighton & Hove Council have recommended the scheme be given the green light, with councillors set to decide the building’s fate for certain on Wednesday.

The newspaper moved to new city centre offices at Dolphin House, Manchester Street, after 25 years at Hollingbury, which is more than four miles from the city centre.

Argus House, Brighton

Argus House, Brighton

The proposed Jaguar dealership will be relocating from Lewes creating 16 new jobs, while buildings at the rear will be converted into a builders’ merchants.

There is currently no occupant lined-up for the builders’ merchants site, but it is anticipated it could create up to 60 jobs.

According to a report on The Argus website, the buildings are considered to be in such poor condition they no longer meet modern business requirements.

It has had no interest from new tenants to take it on its current state despite being on the market for seven years.