A NEW development is taking shape on the skyline of Portsdown Hill - but it's nothing more than a blot on the landscape, according to residents.

Villagers in Southwick have been complaining in their droves about the scale of the building currently under construction by BAe Systems.

The towering battleship grey building is not even completed yet but already residents are claiming it spoils the view of Portsdown Hill.

Southwick councillor Ken Carter said: "Certainly people have been noticing it and we believe it will also have a mast on top of it when completed.

"The colour and size of the thing makes it very noticeable and villagers have been complaining to me about it. I would like to know what sort of consultation was done when the application was made."

Permission for the building was granted a year ago by Portsmouth City Council for the development of the eastern end of the Portsdown Hill Technical Park.

Once built it will be a combat simulator for the Type 45 destroyer produced by BAe. A spokeswoman for Portsmouth City Council said: "It seems the application did go through the full planning process and was approved in June 2002.

"At the time there were no objections from any party. Local authorities and organisations including English Nature were notified and no one objected to the application then."

Permission was granted for the 66 metre long, 14 metre high building that will also have a 24-metre mast installed on the top.

A spokesman for BAe said: "The company has acted in accordance with the local planning guidelines.

"The proposals went through the process and was open to consultation at that stage. We received no objections and planning permission was granted.

"It is regrettable that there are objections at this stage but we can confirm that we are working in accordance with the planning permission granted by the local authority."