Proposals to create the UK's first beach sports centre will be decided next week.

Volleyball champion Katie Randall, who used to compete in the British Beach Volleyball series and was at one time ranked fourth in the country, is backing the £500,000 development which would help regenerate the shoreline.

If Brighton and Hove City Councillors approve the plans on Wednesday building work could start in the New Year with a view to opening the centre in the summer. Six sand-surface volleyball courts, which could be used for international beach soccer, beach rugby or footvolley are planned for the site on the former Peter Pan's Playground off Madeira Drive.

Two climbing walls, including one for children, and a healthy eating cafe are also included in the scheme.

Ms Randall, 30, of St Leonard's Road, Hove, has been planning the development for five years with her partner Spencer Mintram and father Alan, who together form Yellowave Beach Sports.

She said: "It has been a long slog but we are finally there. I am quite nervous about the committee meeting - you dedicate your life to a project and it becomes a big part of your everyday life but we are finally close to getting there."

Ms Randall has been holding beach volleyball taster sessions with local schools and youth groups to introduce them to the sport.

She said: "The aim is to create a facility for the whole community. It would be somewhere where people can come to play beach sports or just come and watch from the cafe and enjoy being in a nice environment.

"We want everyone to get involved, from those who have never played volleyball before to those with disabilities to the professionals.

"The site would be the first of its kind in the UK which is quite an exciting prospect what with the Olympics coming in 2012."

The centre would have a shingle roof, decking areas and solar energy panels.

Ms Randall added: "The area is very neglected at the moment and it's important for us to help regenerate it. The design is very environmentally-friendly and we've tried to make it fit in with the surrounding area as much as possible."