Ken Shuttleworth’s Make Architects is believed to have pipped Building Design Partnership, Wilkinson Eyre and his former colleague Norman Foster to the redevelopment of Brighton’s seafront conference centre

Building understands the firm set up by Shuttleworth, a former director of Foster + Partners, will shortly be announced as architect for the £250m Brighton Centre, which is intended to be a landmark for the seaside town.

The scheme is being developed by Brighton & Hove council with Standard Life Investments. It will include a convention centre, a hotel and the expansion of the Churchill Square shopping centre.

The council refused to confirm that Make had won the scheme, but Building understands an announcement will be made within a fortnight. The council said: “There has been no award to Make as of now and it would be premature to predict any.”

Make will welcome the appointment, as it comes after a difficult few months for the practice

The idea to redevelop this part of Brighton first saw light in 1996, when talks took place between architect Jara International and the council. The discussions came to nothing, but the project has been revived and delayed twice since. Make has already done a feasibility study for the project.

Make would welcome the appointment, as it comes after a difficult few months for the practice. Last week the planning application for its Cherry Orchard Road scheme in Croydon was withdrawn by developer Menta after the council recommended that it be refused. Make is understood to have been retained to rework the designs.

In June, the firm reported a 72% drop in profit from £1.27m in 2007 to £351,000 last year. Earlier this month, Building revealed that the architect was left £53,200 out of pocket by the collapse of Verry Construction.