Proposals to replace Crawley Council's Sixties HQ with a modern shopping complex have been welcomed by a Sussex business group.

Planning consultants are drawing up plans to demolish the building as part of regeneration plans for the town.

Landholder English Partnerships and the council have commissioned a study by CB Hillier Parker into the options for The Boulevard site.

The consultants are looking at a major department store, residential accommodation, offices and civic uses.

Mark Froud, chief executive of Sussex Enterprise, said regenerating Crawley town centre was vital for the local economy.

He said: "Regeneration of this kind will bring more businesses into the town, providing employment for local people and boosting the economy.

"Good shopping facilities will encourage more visitors into the town who will spend money not only in shops but in restaurants, bars and leisure facilities.

"It is vital town centres develop in this way as they have to compete with other growing towns and out-of-town shopping centres.

"However, the infrastructure around the town, such as roads and parking, must also develop to cope with the increasing demand."