Ambitious plans for a major development could include a new hospital.

A consortium is investigating the possibility of creating a business centre, building luxury homes and a hospital on a site near the M23 to the east of Gatwick which could cover up to 250 acres.

But Crawley Borough Council does not believe the location is suitable and has not earmarked it in its plans for any future development of the area.

A Government inspector will hold a two-day public examination of the council's local development framework later this month.

The framework looks at areas across the borough and sets out where it thinks new homes and businesses could be built.

The consortium for the plan, branded the Gatwick Green project, are expected to ask the inspector to consider the site. At the moment it does not form part of the framework.

The consortium is made up of Wilky Property Holdings, Prudential and the Crown Estate.

Anthony Painter, director of communications company Jefferson, is co-ordinating the developers behind the scheme.

He says the developers are looking to do something to benefit Crawley but there were no detailed plans and the project was at the "conversations" stage only.

Organisations approached include BAA, Crawley council, neighbouring Reigate and Bansted Council and local businesses but not all are in favour of the plans.

Crawley council executive member for development Claire Denman said: "The proposals put forward are contrary to the council's proposed policies.

"The council believes its policy to regenerate and make best use of the existing employment areas around the town, including Manor Royal and the Three Bridges corridor, is the most appropriate way forward to meet the town's economic aspirations."

BAA is also said to have reservations as part of any development would take up land which needs to be safeguarded for the possibility of any future development at Gatwick.

Reigate and Bansted Council is also keen to keep areas around Crawley green and maintain a strategic gap around the airport.

Hospital services at Crawley have been a controversial subject for the town following the loss of its accident and emergency, maternity and paediatric departments to East Surrey Hospital in Redhill.

Tens of thousands of people have signed a petition calling for full hospital services to be reinstated in the town.

There is also a separate campaign, backed by the borough council and Horsham District Council, to build a new hospital at Pease Pottage near Crawley.

Crawley campaigner Michael Edwards said: "Any development that includes the possibility of hospital services is going to attract interest from people but we will need to see more details first."