A TOWN'S main shopping centre could be bought by a district council to help boost its own revenue stream.

Mid Sussex District Council has unveiled plans to try and buy the head lease of Orchards Shopping Centre in Haywards Heath.

The authority, which is the freeholder of the site, believes the centre can provide a revenue stream that would help towards the ambition of the council to become financially independent.

Friends Provident Life and Pensions acquired the ground lease in November 2004 which runs until 2081 and have overseen the first stage of a multi-phase £10 million refit of the shopping centre which was launched in September.

The centre sits on a site of 9.2 acres with 40 shops including major tenants Marks and Spencer, Next and Superdrug, cafes and a fitness suite and 31 flats.

Council officers said the council could attempt to attract investment funding into the centre to bring new shops and restaurants in to the town.

The authority, which will discuss the proposal when its cabinet meets today, said it expects there to be a number of bidders for the shopping centre which would represent a "significant purchase for the council".