A £1 million improvement scheme to draw visitors to a theatre district is expected to be given the go-ahead this week.

New Road, at the centre of Brighton, will be given a makeover by international designers if the project is given the green light by Brighton and Hove City Council's environment committee on Thursday.

A scheme has been drawn up to make the street more attractive and provide better facilities for pedestrians.

The plans combine the expertise of a design team led by the UK's Landscape Projects and Denmark's Gehl Architects with the knowledge of residents and businesses, who participated in the consultation.

Environment councillor Gill Mitchell said: "Local people have made a terrific contribution to the proposals and we have a scheme before us that will make the area much more attractive and provide a high-quality public space."

New Road links North Laine, the Lanes, Jubilee Street and the Pavilion Gardens.

It boasts theatres, bars, restaurants, shops, a museum, church, gardens and the Royal Pavilion.

It is identified in the city's cultural quarter strategy, which covers the area between the station and the Palace Pier, and is a residential area.

At present, it is considered unfriendly and inhospitable to pedestrians and cyclists, is cluttered with street furniture and attracts fast-moving cars.

It also attracts antisocial behaviour in the evenings, particularly in the Pavilion Gardens.

Last year, the council hosted three workshops and a public consultation on the proposed design, which it said produced positive feedback.

Monday, January 23, 2006