A £100 million scheme for hundreds of city centre homes and 1,000 jobs has been proposed for derelict land in Brighton.

The New England Consortium has presented the plan for land next to Brighton station to city councillors.

It is proposing the 15-acre site should be transformed into what would be called the New England Quarter.

Railtrack, the site owners, is part of the consortium which has put forward the biggest development scheme for several years in the city centre.

It would include 261 new homes, ranging from warehouse flats to town houses.

A third of them would be for social housing and there would also be more than 360 apartments for key workers in essential city services.

The scheme includes a 150,000 sq ft European headquarters for an international teaching organisation.

There would be a 250,000 sq ft Sainsbury's supermarket with 194 car parking spaces and three other shops.

The scheme would also have a 34,000 sq ft office building, a 25,000 sqft leisure and fitness centre and space for small businesses. Other features include two hotels, one a luxury four star and the other a three star.

Sussex-based developers QED are the consortium's project managers.

Director Chris Gilbert said it would generate at least 1,000 jobs, bring back trade to a key area of Brighton and improve links between London Road, the station and North Laine.

Mr Gilbert said: "Many attempts to develop this important site have been proposed but have come to nothing.

"We have spent two years listening to the community, researching the options and drawing up this landmark scheme.

"This scheme has been conceived and designed with the environment always in mind. It is a model of sustainable urban development.

"We are certain what we propose is the best chance yet of getting on with a long overdue development of the site.

"We have the ideas, resources and expertise to make the New England Quarter a reality and we urge the council to give us the go ahead."

The development would include a new network of streets and squares with New England Square and Ann Square as focal points.

This would enable derelict land to be reused and trigger improvements to the surrounding area.

A new street would run through the site diverting New England Street and remove a barrier between it and London Road shops.

There would be a new gateway off the eastern platform of Brighton station together with a new taxi centre, a bus stopping point and a cycle park.

This would overcome congestion at the station entrance and encourage people to switch from cars to public transport.

Urbed, the Urban and Economic Development Group, are main planners for the scheme.

It has been consultants to the Government's urban task force.

The consortium consists of Railtrack, Sainsbury's, QED and Gleesons Homes.