A college branded the ugliest building in England is set to be demolished and rebuilt under £55 million plans revealed today.

Central Sussex College's campus in Crawley is considered an eyesore and would be replaced with fourstorey blocks designed by master architects under new proposals.

Plans include a new public area featuring a hair and beauty salon and a restaurant.

Students would learn higher-level skills at a university centre aimed at supporting businesses and industry in the Gatwick Diamond economic sub-region.

Some of the land owned by the college is likely to be sold for redevelopment as additional town centre housing.

The details have been revealed in a planning application due to be made to Crawley Borough Council this month and will come as welcome relief to critics of the existing building.

Councillor John Mortimer derided the college in December during a planning meeting discussing the town's new library.

He described the college as "the ugliest building in the whole of England".

College principal Russell Strutt explained the redevelopment was part of a county and nationwide investment in education facilities.

He said it would provide youngsters with brighter opportunities and give them skills that employers need.

Mr Strutt added: "This is an exciting time in the history of the college and we are really looking forward to developing a campus fit for the 21st Century.

"It will support the economic and skills development needs within the Gatwick Diamond area and address social and educational needs of both Crawley and the surrounding areas."

Building work at the College Road campus will start later this year if planning permission is granted and be carried out in stages.

It has been designed by master planners Lee Evans, in Canterbury, to blend in with the recently finished £9 million Longley building.

Consultations have been carried out with staff, students, neighbours and businesses.

The college will apply for part-funding from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) and raise the rest of the money itself.

The LSC has committed to improving further-education centres and helped finance another of the college's redevelopments.

Central Sussex College is carrying out a £24 million rebuild of its Haywards Heath campus.

To view the plans, visit www.centralsussex.ac.uk/ redevelopment/crawley.