THE MULTI-million redevelopment of Brighton’s seafront has taken another significant step further with the £13.2 million purchase of a car park by a major landowner.

Standard Life Investments UK Shopping Centre Trust has bought the long-lease interest in the Russell Road car park in Brighton from CP Holdings for £13.32 million, according to reports in industry publication Property Week.

The trust, which already owns Churchill Square shopping centre, outlined its plans to extend the shopping facilities down to Brighton seafront in a £540 million project in December.

The project includes proposals for a redevelopment of Canon Place and Russell Road as well as the relocation of a Brighton Centre style arena to Black Rock.

The 536-space cark park, which is currently let to NCP on a lease with 22 years remaining, is seen as a key site as part of that redevelopment.