CABE letter says public spaces on Frank Gehry's King Alfred development had not been given enough thought.

Architect Frank Ghery's troubled King Alfred development in Brighton, Hove has been slammed again by design watchdog CABE.

CABE criticised the scheme for being banal and not living up to its potential.

In a letter to Brighton & Hove City Council, design review director Selina Mason added that the public spaces had not been given enough thought.

The letter said: "The earlier material we saw was promising, but the planning application has not realised this potential. In looking at the new images, we are struck by how banal we would find this scheme if it were not for the towers. We continue to believe that the public spaces are ill considered."

The mixed use development by Pulitzer prize-winning Frank Gehry along with HOK and CZWG will include a new public sports centre and 752 residential units in two towers and eight other buildings.