Radical plans to change the layout of Brighton Station have been unveiled.

About 1,400 people took part in consultation earlier this year on three options to improve the space in front of the station.

Now, bosses at Brighton and Hove City Council have come up with revised plans to improve the gateway to the city .

They believe the proposal balances the needs of all the 14.5 million recorded passenger numbers that pass through the area every year.

Council leader Jason Kitcat said: “I think the plans are very positive and provide an option which meets the needs of all the users of the station while radically improving the built environment.

“It’s a very busy area – it’s the 13th busiest station in the country – and there’s always a balance to meet the needs of motorists, cyclists, buses and taxis that use the area.”

Plans to revamp the area have been talked about since 2010.

Among the planned changes will include the taxi rank being moved from directly in front of the station.

A new public area will be created which could contain some cycle parking, small stalls, and a new pedestrian route to North Laine and Queens Road.

A new ticket office, which will also act as a tourist centre, will be created outside the Victorian building.

In its place, a taxi rank will be created in Frederick Place, which is parallel to Queen’s Road and under the bridge in Trafalgar Street.

This will need the traffic flow in Frederick Place and the western ends of Trafalgar Street and Gloucester Road to be reversed.

Buses will remain in their current position although there may be some minor changes to services.

New cycle lanes in Trafalgar Street and Queens Road will allow cyclists to pass in both directions.

Roger French, of Brighton and Hove Bus Company , said: “We’re pleased that this proposal is being brought forward, it makes a lot of sense.”

Andy Cheesman, of City Cabs, said currently only 300 taxis could use Brighton Station and they had to pay £430 a year for the permit.

However, he said the proposed plan would mean all 540 licensed hackney carriages would have access to the area.

Mr Cheesman, who is also the chairman of Queens Road Traders’ Association, said: “I think it’s the best thing that has come forward for this area in a long time.