Mid Sussex District Council could quit its crumbling town centre offices in Haywards Heath to breathe life into a derelict site near the town's railway station.

Plans were put forward last night to turn the seven-acre town centre site into council offices.

The authority has been battling to develop the site for almost 20 years but plans have continually hit the buffers due to a "frustrating" tangle of red tape and changes in ownership of the land.

But councillors are determined to kick start the project and believe the council should take a lead role.

At the meeting, councillor Edward King said the council should act as a catalyst by becoming the leading tenants on the site.

In discussing a report on the site, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee last night recommended the Cabinet ask leading architects, such as Sir Terry Farrell, to draw up their visions of what the station site could be like, including offices and accommodation.

Another suggestion was to fill in land over the railway line and extend the tunnel to create a new town centre.

The prime brownfield site includes a derelict pub, sheds and car parks.

Last month, Mid Sussex MP Nicholas Soames wrote to Adrian Montague, vice chairman of Network Rail, to stress how important the development of the site is for the town and to ask his thoughts.

Officer John Ross said: "The council has been promoting redevelopment for many years but without a great deal of success.

"This is partly due to the tremendous changes in the railway industry in the last five or six years."

Originally owned by British Rail, the site has gone from Railtrack to Network Rail in the last few years.

Ownership is now split among several companies, including Hammerson, Ballymore and Domaine Developments.

Councillors spoke of their frustration at the fragmented ownership and said the council ought to take a lead role.

Coun King said: "The report itself is disappointing, in that it records the lack of progress on this site.

"It has been more like musical chairs or snakes and ladders - we are in the same position as we were four years ago. It is very frustrating.

"The council should act as the enabler and catalyst for moving the project forward.

"We need to indicate a flexible and entrepreneurial attitude to attract prospective developers."

Councillor Brian Hall went one step further by suggesting the council should become the owners of the site.

Committee chairwoman Margaret Hersey recommended the report be put before the Cabinet.