The residential towers are said to have a "crumpled" appearance

The design for the King Alfred leisure centre site was approved by Brighton and Hove City Council last month as long as certain changes were made.

The Commission for Architecture and the Built Environment (Cabe) said it now offered its overall support.

But it said there was "some way to go" on a solution for the public spaces.

The reworked design, for developer Karis, is for a new sports centre and 751 residential units, to include affordable housing, in two towers and eight other buildings.

Wind turbines

There will also be shops, restaurants, cafes, bars, a doctor's surgery, police office and public toilets.

The new application reduces the height of some buildings but increases that of others, including the towers.

It increases the number of balconies and roof terraces and adds wind turbines, solar hot water heating and vegetated shingle roofs.

Cabe also urged careful thought about the appearance of the sports centre from the beach.

"The sports centre risks presenting a "back" to the beach, rather than appearing to be an active and inviting public asset," it said.

Karis managing director Josh Arghiros said: "This is a fantastic endorsement of the work that has been put in to enhance the scheme by Frank Gehry and the council."