The Ministry of Defence wants to see shops on the old Preston Barracks site in Brighton.

It says the barracks, off Lewes Road, Brighton, should be put forward for retail use in Brighton and Hove City Council's Local Plan.

There are already retail warehouses and social housing on part of the site.

Originally, the council did not include shopping on the site but is now likely to do so, following negotiation with the ministry.

This is on condition that development which generates jobs and housing is allowed on the rest of the site.

Councillors are being asked to approve the ideas at a meeting on July 26.

The proposal for the area says there should be a high-density, mixed-use development of offices, shops, commerce, sport and recreation.

But Tony Mernagh, of the City Centre Business Forum, said any such development would need to be considered carefully.

He said: "Brighton already has considerably more shops than towns of similar profile and many people feel that it is over-supplied already.

"Serious thought would have to be given to how they would complement our existing retail offer."