A £10.4 million plan to demolish a youth centre and upgrade a special school is moving forward.

West Sussex County Council has formally applied to Worthing Borough Council to relocate Highdown Special School about 50 yards south of its current site in Durrington Lane, Worthing.

If approved, the redevelopment would mean the Rose Wilmot Youth and Community Centre being knocked down to make way for a larger special school, parking, outdoor playing facilities and a floodlit games area.

The site is within Durrington High School's grounds but none of its playing fields would be affected.

A county council spokeswoman said Highdown's facilities were inadequate and she said the youth centre would be replaced if the relocation goes ahead.

She added: "This is all part of the reorganisation of special education in the county.

"The Department for Education and Skills now considers children with special educational needs should not be in schools that cater for ages three to 19 years.

"They should be in all-through primary schools which cater for three to 11 years and then secondary schools for 11 to 19 years.

"But the main reason for the relocation is that Highdown is inadequate. It does not have playing fields and is too small."

The spokeswoman added it was important that special schools are not isolated from mainstream schools. The improved youth centre and games facilities will be used by both schools and the community.

James Appleton, Worthing's development control manager, said the proposed relocation would cover a 5,800 square metre area but no plans had been submitted for the current school site.

The relocation is aimed at giving improved facilities for 240 pupils, aged from 11 to 19. If backed by borough planners, one Rose Wilmot building would be retained for use as a youth centre until construction is completed in September 2005.

No one from Durrington High was available for comment today.