Coastal towns in Sussex face rapid economic decline unless more is done to create jobs and provide low-cost housing, according to a new study.

Research carried out by the county's local authorities found more workers were commuting out of places like Brighton and Worthing than coming in.

The only exceptions were Chichester, with a net inflow of 2,800 people, and Eastbourne, with a net inflow of 300.

The Sussex Coastal Towns study said economic policies were needed to help coastal towns meet the challenges of employment and housing.

These included improving transport infrastructure, tackling areas of high crime and deprivation, and providing businesses with better premises.

Problems on the A27 and A259 were already holding up major projects, notably the Shoreham Maritime Project.

A shortage of affordable housing meant businesses were finding it difficult to recruit skilled workers. It was also having a detrimental effect on public services.

Both these areas had to be addressed and some environmental restraints on business development relaxed if the economies of coastal towns were to flourish.

The confines of the sea and huge areas of outstanding natural beauty meant building large-scale business sites was impossible in many areas along the coast.

The report warned against relying on Gatwick and Crawley, the twin engines of the Sussex economy, when developing a strategy for coastal towns.

Neither could provide enough employment to plug gaps on the coast and the coast could not provide enough housing to supply the labour market in Crawley and Gatwick.

If coastal towns continued to expand at the same rate as in the last ten years, quality of life for those living there would be badly affected, the report warned.

The survey will be sent to the South-East England Regional Assembly (SEERA), which advises the Government on the region and is drawing up a 20-year vision for the area.

Consultation on a draft of SEERA's South-East Plan, which will outline a strategy for the entire region up to 2026, will start next year.

Tony Reid, East Sussex County Council member for transport and the environment, said: "We believe SEERA must give the coastal towns special treatment in its long-term plan.

"Improving the economy will bring a real benefit to local people's lives and to the environment and help improve regional prosperity."

Wednesday May 19, 2004