A SECOND scheme for developing the Brighton Station site has been put forward to the working group planning its future.

Last month, the New England Consortium, which includes site owners Railtrack and supermarket giant Sainsbury's, presented an urban village concept including housing, landscaping and a food store.

Brighton-based architectural firm the RH Partnership has now put forward its scheme for the site.

The scheme includes more than 500 homes, shops, a sports centre, an open market,

cafes, bars, a hotel and offices.

Plans follow the grain of the old fields in the area and mirror the street patterns of the North Laine next door.

RH Partnership produced the plans at its own expense, claiming they were both economically viable and

environmentally conscious.

The working group is to produce a planning brief for the site and the consortium is then expected to put in a planning application.

Local Green councillor Keith Taylor, a member of the working group, welcomed the RH scheme as respecting the existing townscape of Brighton.

He said: "It is important to note this

project has evolved from within the town as a result of unpaid work by the architects and community groups.

"People are working for nothing because they care about the town they live

and work in and we owe them a debt of gratitude."

Another working group member, Sara Bragg, from Brighton Urban Design and Development, said: "For the first

time we have been able to talk about a future of the site that doesn't include a supermarket.

"I am looking forward to helping the group develop the RH proposals in tandem with the principles and ideas that have come from the community."

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.