A spruce up of a busy shopping street will try to reduce overcrowding and closing stores.

The Royal Bank of Scotland has announced plans to improve North Street in Brighton by introducing wider pavements as well as more trees and more seats.

The owners of the former Hanningtons block said it is carrying out a regeneration project on the street in part because the shop units in the area suffer from high vacancy rates as a result of the very narrow footways crowded with waiting bus passengers.

Information leaflets have now been sent out encouraging businesses and residents to comment on the proposals.

Plans include the widening of the pavement on the south side of North Street between Meeting House Lane and Princes Place, moving the westbound bus stops further west to between Meeting House Lane and Ship Street and widening the pavement at the east bound stops between Prince’s Place and Pavilion Buildings.

It is hoped the changes will relieve pedestrian congestion and allow trees and seats to be installed, improving the overall attractiveness of the street and encouraging shoppers to shop for longer.

A new pelican crossing will also be installed at Prince’s Place to help pedestrians cross between North Street and the Pavilion, North Laine and The Lanes.

A £15 million project by RBS group member West Register to build a new lane into Brighton Square from North Street was approved in December.

To comment on the proposals email northstreetbrighton@gmail.com.