Eye won't dazzle, says architect

Ruth Lumley - The Argus Wednesday, 16 August, 2006

Concerns that the Brighton Eye will dazzle nearby residents with bright lighting have been quashed by the architect.

The planning committee of the Regency Society was worried the lighting on the tower - known as the i360 - would become a regular night-time spectacle which would irritate those living nearby.

John Small, secretary of the society, said: "We have written to the council asking for clarification about the lighting because we do not know exactly what it is going to be.

"We are not opposed to the proposal but we wish any lighting display to be limited. We do not know whether it is going to be on all the time or if it is going to flash."

But architect David Marks said the lighting would be soft and unobtrusive while still complying with the Civil Aviation Authority's (CAA) regulations.

He said: "We have to comply with the authority because it is 150m high. The very top has to be fitted with a medium-intensity steady red light like the ones you usually see on the side of electricity pylons.

"It still needs to be lit to satisfy the CAA regulations and this needs to be at steady intervals down the side of the structure but we are negotiating with the CAA so we can do something less obtrusive." Above the capsule and below the wind turbines there will be low-intensity LED lights which will be designed not to disturb the surrounding environment.

The lights will not flash but will change colour throughout the year.

There will be a low-intensity blue light inside the capsule so people can see each other but still see out of the capsule's windows.

The recesses which carry the cable mechanism for the pod will also be gently lit.

Mr Marks said: "We are working with an artist to look at how we can do the lighting and we want to do this because we think buildings are often over-lit.

"It will be environmentally friendly so people can still see the sky and we have no intention of having flashing lights."

The 600ft Brighton Eye would be the tallest building in Sussex, soaring above any other building on the seafront, and is expected to attract more than 500,000 visitors a year.

Visitors would be able to see 50 miles from the £20 million observation platform at the land end of the derelict West Pier.

The deadline for representations on the consultation process is Friday and Brighton and Hove City Council has already received 55 letters of objection and 15 letters of support.