A team of architects are to be appointed to design a brand new £400 million Brighton Centre.

Make Architects, the group behind a string of iconic buildings including The Gherkin in London and the arches of the new Wembley Stadium, will be officially appointed as lead consultant of the project on Monday.

They will be handed the coveted job by global property developer Standard Life Investments and Brighton and Hove City Council.

As well as the new convention facility, the development will include the extension of the existing Churchill Square shopping centre, which is owned by Standard Life, a new four-star hotel and leisure facilities.

The council hopes it will create 1,300 new tourism and retail jobs and inject £3 billion into the city’s economy over 20 years.

The Make Architects design team is the first in a group of eight professional practices being assembled to handle the project.

Ken Shuttleworth, founder of Make, said: “It's a real privilege to be appointed to design this development and as a team we are really looking forward to working together in realising a striking, innovative and highly sustainable building for Brighton.

“The city has such a distinct character and our design must be rooted in this context - uniquely Brightonian.”

Council leader Mary Mears said: “Delivery of a new convention centre has been a key economic priority for the city.

“It shows the major developers regard Brighton and Hove as a great place to invest.”

A six-month phase of feasibility studies is expected to take place once the full team has been selected.

The project has been on the cards for more than a decade but has faltered after a number of setbacks.

Work is ongoing to plug an £18 million financial gap in the scheme after the Government last year blocked a key grant.