An eyesore multi-storey car park which has blighted a seafront for decades could be hidden by new homes and shops.

Senior borough councillors fear there is little hope in the foreseeable future of redeveloping the whole Grafton site in Worthing due to the recession and downturn in the housing market.

But they believe that land south of the car park, and an adjoining open space, could be built on.

Councillors hope a decision to bulldoze, at taxpayers' expense, most of the concrete decking adjoining Marine Parade will act as an incentive for developers who will not have to pay for the work to be done.

The cabinet agreed to carry out the demolition this year at a cost of £375,000 after being warned that the decking was structurally unsound following almost 40 years' exposure to corrosive salt-laden sea air.

Councillors fear pedestrians walking along the service road below the crumbling decking might be hit by large chunks of falling debris.

Developers City and Provincial pulled out of plans to bulldoze the car park and build shops and flats on the site as the credit crunch hit.

The council had also tried in vain to market vacant land just to the west as the site for a high rise hotel, or a pub with flats above.

Councillor Paul Yallop, leader of the council, said: “Complete redevelopment of the Grafton site is unlikely to be viable for a very long time.”